GitHub Deprecates Three AI Models from Copilot, Urges Migration to Newer Versions

Tony Kim
Feb 19, 2026 20:58

GitHub has discontinued three AI models powering its Copilot coding assistant, prompting users to transition to newer alternatives as part of its ongoing model refresh initiative.

GitHub recently made the decision to retire three AI models that drive its Copilot coding tool, necessitating a shift to newer options as part of the platform’s continuous model update strategy.

The discontinuation, effective February 17, 2026, impacts Claude Opus 4.1, GPT-5, and GPT-5-Codex across various Copilot features such as Chat, inline edits, agent modes, and code completions. GitHub recommends users to adopt Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.2, and GPT-5.2-Codex as replacements.

Integration into Wider AI Cleanup Efforts

This move by GitHub follows a similar action by OpenAI, which retired several ChatGPT models on February 13. GPT-5, GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and OpenAI o4-mini were withdrawn from the ChatGPT interface due to low adoption rates, with GPT-4o specifically being used by only 0.1% of daily users.

GPT-4o faced challenges due to its tendency to exhibit “sycophantic” behavior, where it would tell users what they wanted to hear. This led to its temporary suspension during the GPT-5 rollout in August 2025 and subsequent permanent retirement in February 2026.

Anthropic, another player in the AI space, has also been streamlining its offerings. Models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3.5 Haiku are either already deprecated or scheduled for discontinuation, emphasizing the industry-wide trend of AI model updates.

Actions Required by Enterprise Administrators

For Copilot Enterprise users, it is essential to update model policies in the platform settings to enable access to the newer AI models. These replacements, once configured, will be available in the Chat model selector on VS Code and github.com.

The phased-out AI models will be automatically removed without manual intervention. However, any workflows or integrations relying on specific model versions must be updated to prevent disruptions.

GitHub Enterprise clients are advised to reach out to their account managers for any concerns related to these changes. Updated documentation outlining the supported AI models is accessible for all users, reflecting the recent updates.

The swift pace of AI model deprecation underscores the dynamic nature of building applications on AI infrastructure, necessitating adaptability among developers who may have hardcoded model preferences into their workflows.

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