GitHub Copilot Fusion picks the AI model for each coding task

At its Universe event on October 28, GitHub made Copilot Fusion generally available. Instead of choosing a model for every task, you pick Fusion in the model picker and Copilot decides which models to use.

Fusion has three effort levels: Standard for everyday coding, High for harder problems, and Max for the toughest ones. It can use one model, let an efficient model draft and escalate to a stronger one if a quality check fails, or have one model draft while another reviews and the first revises.

It works on all Copilot plans, in VS Code, the GitHub Copilot app, the Copilot CLI and JetBrains IDEs. You pay each model’s normal rate for whatever Fusion uses, and paid plans get 30% off model costs for a limited time.

GitHub says Fusion Max scored about two points below Claude Opus 5.5 Max on the Artificial Analysis Coding Agent Index, at roughly half the cost per task.

The catch: Those results are GitHub’s own comparison, you can’t force a specific model, and your bill depends on which models Fusion picks.

How to try it

1. Update your Copilot client.
2. Open the model picker and choose Copilot Fusion.
3. Pick an effort level. Start with Standard.
4. Give it a task you already know the answer to, and compare the cost with your usual model.

Should you switch?

• Yes: you often use an expensive model for small jobs and want Copilot to pick a cheaper one.
• No: you need the same model every time, for example to compare results over weeks.
• Maybe: you work in an organization, since admins control which models Fusion may use.