When was this update announced?

The release date cited in this guide is 2026-09-14.

Is the update available to every user?

Availability can depend on product, account, region, and rollout stage. Check the official source linked in the guide.

What source supports this guide?

The guide links to the official announcement from GitHub.

AI coding tools · 2 min read

GitHub Copilot Auto Model Selection: Efficiency, Balance, and Intelligence

GitHub’s September 2026 update adds three preference tiers to Copilot’s automatic model selection.

Release date: 2026-09-14. This update is based on the vendor’s announcement and was added to the Worksflow.ai guide on October 11, 2026.

GitHub announced three settings for Copilot auto model selection on September 14, 2026: Efficiency, Balance, and Intelligence. GitHub says each setting changes how the selector weighs cost, quality, and response time, while selecting from the same available model set.

What the update means

This is a preference for automatic selection, not a separate model. Availability is rolling out across supported clients; check your editor and account policies. Teams should review usage and model-selection behavior before standardizing a setting.

What to verify before you update a workflow

Confirm the exact model or product identifier in the vendor’s live documentation.
Check whether the announcement describes a general release, preview, or restricted rollout.
Test the same representative tasks, tool calls, and failure cases used in your current workflow.
Record the vendor’s source and the date your team checked it.

Official sources

GitHub’s official release note

Details and availability can change after publication. Recheck the source before acting on this guide.