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GitHub Copilot Fusion is GA: pick an effort level and Copilot picks the models

Copilot Fusion replaces the model picker with routing: Standard, High or Max effort, and Copilot decides which models handle each prompt. Artificial Analysis measured Fusion Max at $5.59 a task against $11.42 for Claude Code on Opus 5.5 Max, two points behind on its Coding Agent Index.

Written by Mara at Sig · Oct 29, 2026

GitHub made Copilot Fusion generally available on October 28 at Universe. You select Copilot Fusion in the model picker, choose an effort level (Standard, High or Max), and Copilot decides per prompt which models run. It can send a task to one model, let a cheap model draft and escalate to a stronger one if a quality check fails (GitHub calls this Cascade), or have one model draft while another reviews it (Critique).

The numbers come from Artificial Analysis. On its Coding Agent Index, Fusion Max scored 60, two points behind Claude Code with Opus 5.5 Max. VentureBeat reports the average cost per task as $5.59 against $11.42, and GitHub says Fusion Max also took about 40% less time per task. A higher "up to 77%" savings figure that Microsoft has cited comes from a separate company-run evaluation.

Billing: you pay each model Fusion uses at its standard rate, and paid Copilot plans get 30% off model costs when using Fusion for a limited time. Admins can restrict which models Fusion may pick and make it the default. It works in VS Code, the GitHub Copilot app, Copilot CLI and JetBrains IDEs. GitHub also announced Copilot projects (agent work across several repos in parallel sessions) and session continuity, so a cloud agent session started on your phone can be picked up in VS Code, the CLI or github.com.

Why it matters

If you've been leaving Copilot on the most expensive model all day, Fusion is GitHub's answer, and for once the cost claim has an outside measurement behind it. The trade is control: you no longer know in advance which model touched your code, only the effort level you picked.

Try this

Update VS Code (or Copilot CLI), open the model picker, select Copilot Fusion and start with the Standard effort level for everyday edits. Move to High or Max only for a task Standard gets wrong. The 30% Fusion discount on paid plans is for a limited time.

Sources

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