Developers shouldn't have to choose between their preferred IDE and their preferred AI coding assistant. That's why GitHub Copilot's arrival as a native agent in JetBrains matters. It removes friction, gives developers like you more choice, and signals a bigger shift towards agent-powered software development. 

GitHub Copilot is now available in JetBrains IDEs  

While GitHub Copilot was previously available within JetBrains through plugins, native integration delivers a more seamless and dependable experience. Now, Copilot’s available by default within the IDE, reducing setup requirements and helping developers to get started faster. 

The big benefit of this update is that you’ll spend less time configuring tools and more time building software. Get into the flow of work faster, with fewer obstacles. 

This is just the start, as it was announced at Microsoft Build that JetBrains will continue to build on their partnership by delivering more GitHub Copilot x JetBrains experiences. Helping you to build better apps, faster and using the tools of your choice. 

JetBrains AI approach  

This GitHub Copilot integration reflects JetBrains' wider AI strategy: giving developers choice. Instead of locking users into a single AI model or workflow, JetBrains is building an open ecosystem where different AI agents and models can work within the same development environment. 

This means you get the freedom to select the tools that best fit your workflow without having to switch IDEs. Whether that's using JetBrains AI Assistant, GitHub Copilot, or any future AI agents. The goal of JetBrains’ new approach is simple: to make AI capabilities available where developers already work. 

From AI Assistant to AI agent 

The significance of GitHub Copilot in JetBrains goes beyond what it means for using autocomplete and chat. GitHub Copilot is increasingly evolving into an AI coding agent. Now, it’s capable of handling more complex, multi-step development tasks. 

Within JetBrains AI Assistant, you can use GitHub Copilot as an agent, helping you to work through larger coding challenges, understand project context, and accelerate development workflows from within a single development environment. 

This reflects a broader shift across the software industry, where AI tools are moving from reactive assistants to proactive development partners. For engineering leaders, that's important. As AI tools increasingly become part of everyday development workflows, flexibility is becoming just as valuable as capability. Teams want standardised AI governance, without restricting how developers work best. 

Why choose GitHub Copilot  

GitHub Copilot helps you to spend less time on repetitive work and more time solving meaningful problems. From generating tests and suggesting fixes to explaining unfamiliar code, it removes friction throughout the development process. Rather than replacing developer expertise, Copilot helps your teams spend less time on repetitive work and more time solving complex problems. 

One of Copilot's key strengths is its deep understanding of the developer workflow. Integrated directly into the tools developers use every day, Copilot can assist with writing code, refactoring, debugging, documenting applications, and reviewing pull requests. 

In short, Copilot enables you to stay focused and maintain momentum without constantly switching between tools, documentation, and external AI assistants. With its integration in JetBrains IDEs, these benefits are extended further, placing them directly in the environments your teams use every day. 

What this means for the future of AI-powered development 

The GitHub Copilot and JetBrains partnership is another sign that the future of software development won't be defined by a single AI assistant. Instead, developers will increasingly work within open ecosystems where multiple AI agents, models, and tools collaborate inside a unified development environment. 

For JetBrains users, GitHub Copilot's native availability delivers immediate benefits through a smoother experience and reduced setup. More importantly, it signals where the industry is heading towards agent-driven development workflows where AI becomes an integrated part of the software engineering process rather than just a coding assistant. 

Licence GitHub Copilot through a trusted partner 

As a top 5 GitHub Copilot partner in the UK with over 40 years in business, we offer partnership you can trust. Looking to roll out GitHub Copilot across your development teams? We can help you choose the right licensing model, optimise costs and support adoption across your organisation. Get in touch with our team via the form below to explore what's possible.