Summary
On July 30, 2026, GitHub's July Visual Studio Copilot update introduced a new Agent (Preview) in the agent picker, built on the same GitHub Copilot SDK that powers the Copilot CLI, aiming to get more tasks right the first time with shorter, scannable responses. The update also added built-in .NET and Azure skills, inline code review for selected code, and organization-level custom instructions for Business and Enterprise plans.
What changed
New Agent (Preview) in Visual Studio's agent picker, built on the GitHub Copilot SDK shared with the Copilot CLI. Added expert-authored .NET and Azure skills, inline code review on selected code, and org-level custom instructions for Business and Enterprise. Available across all Copilot plans.
Why it matters
Standardizing the IDE agent on the same SDK as the CLI means one agent behavior across surfaces, a portability play that makes agent-quality improvements ship everywhere at once. Org-level instructions and built-in domain skills push Visual Studio's agent toward enterprise .NET and Azure shops where consistency and governance matter.
Evidence excerpt
a new Agent (Preview) ... built on the same GitHub Copilot SDK that powers the GitHub Copilot CLI ... gets more tasks right the first time with less back-and-forth ... built-in .NET and Azure skills ... organization-level custom instructions.