GitHub Copilot Code Review can now approve pull requests automatically
GitHub has launched a feature in public preview that allows Copilot Code Review to approve pull requests automatically. It is disabled by default and can be enabled at the enterprise, organization, or repository level.
GitHub has made a new feature of GitHub Copilot Code Review available in public preview, allowing the tool to approve pull requests automatically. Each review from Copilot now includes an approval readiness assessment in the summary comment – a signal indicating whether the tool considers the pull request ready to merge, alongside its detailed comments. The assessment itself does not count toward rules requiring a certain number of approvals.
Automatic approval is disabled by default. Administrators can enable it at the enterprise, organization, or individual repository level. Once enabled, Copilot can grant an approval that counts toward the repository rule requiring a certain number of approvals. If someone adds new commits to the pull request after approval, the approval from Copilot is dismissed just as it would be for a human reviewer, and a new review must be requested.
According to GitHub, the feature is available to users of the Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business and Enterprise plans. Details on configuration at each level can be found in the source article.
Why it matters
For teams that require pull request approvals, this changes the code review process – approval from an AI tool can count as fulfilling a formal merge requirement, requiring administrators to make an explicit decision on whether and where to allow such automation, and introducing a new risk if the organization relies on the assessment from the tool without human oversight.
Two audiences, two different impacts
What this means
For individuals
Developers working with pull requests on GitHub will now also see an assessment of whether the pull request is ready for approval in reviews from Copilot Code Review, and if an administrator enables the feature, this approval can replace part of the human review.
For a business
Companies using GitHub can configure Copilot Code Review to grant pull request approvals that count toward the required approvals rule – this changes the code review process and requires administrators to decide at which level (enterprise, organization, repository) to enable the feature.
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