Journalism of Courage
Advertisement
Premium

GitHub doubles down on openness as AI-powered software development takes center stage at Universe 2025 in San Francisco

With the rise of generative AI, GitHub has grown into a central place for developers to do their work

GithubGitHub's Chief Operating Officer, Kyle Daigle

Onstage at Universe 2025, GitHub’s annual event, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Kyle Daigle, told developers that “GitHub has always done what it does best – fixing developer pain around how developers build, while still allowing you to choose how you want to build.” That may be the biggest takeaway, perhaps the fundamental principle behind the Microsoft-owned developer platform especially at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping software development.

Daigle put every developer and enterprise on notice with AI-assisted software development, echoing the broader trend emerging across Silicon Valley. More importantly, GitHub is going all in on being developer-focused, a core part of what the company does best.

As tech executives pitch “AI agents”, digital helpers that can perform tasks on your computer as the next big thing in artificial intelligence, GitHub is making a bold bet that enterprises don’t need yet another proprietary agent. Instead, it’s giving developers a choice through a “mission control” interface that allows them to manage multiple AI coding agents from leading AI research labs on a single platform.

Third-party agents will begin rolling out to GitHub Copilot subscribers in the coming months, while Copilot Pro+ users will be able to access OpenAI Codex in VS Code Insiders starting this week, the company said

The new architecture, called Agent HQ, transforms GitHub into a unified control plane for managing multiple AI coding agents from key competitors including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Cognition, and xAI – all in one place. This means users will have access to a command center where they can assign, steer, and monitor the work of multiple agents in real time.

Third-party agents will begin rolling out to GitHub Copilot subscribers in the coming months, while Copilot Pro+ users will be able to access OpenAI Codex in VS Code Insiders starting this week, the company said.

Github is owned by Microsoft. The company was founded in 2007 but Microsoft acquired in 2018 for $7.5 billion in stock, and and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said at the time that the deal would “strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation.”

GitHub, founded in 2007, is owned by Microsoft. The tech giant acquired the company in 2018 for $7.5 billion in stock, and at the time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the deal would “strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness, and innovation.”

Story continues below this ad

For Microsoft, GitHub is central to its overall strategy, especially with the rise of generative artificial intelligence. The platform serves as a bridge to engage developers and bring them into Microsoft’s ecosystem – Windows, Azure, and its suite of AI tools. In fact, GitHub is seen as the central hub where developers get their work done.

As Microsoft invests billions of dollars each year in artificial intelligence infrastructure and development, GitHub is seen as a gateway to bringing AI-powered copilots across Microsoft’s product portfolio

GitHub is a code-hosting platform that allows coders to collaborate on open-source projects. The company calls itself the world’s leading software development platform and says that over 180 million developers and 90 per cent of Fortune 100 companies use GitHub. The platform continues to grow at a rapid pace.

In 2021, GitHub launched Copilot in collaboration with Microsoft and OpenAI. The offering, which suggests code for developers to add to their projects, has been adopted by a wide range of users with the goal of making engineers more productive.

GitHub has maintained an edge from the start, even as artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to write code and assist in software development. A number of new code-sharing platforms, such as Cursor creator Anysphere, Replit, and Windsurf (whose CEO was recently hired by Google), have emerged. At the same time, the craze for vibe coding has swept Silicon Valley, bringing AI deeper into the coding process and making programming more accessible to those with little formal training. However, this shift has also introduced trade-offs that developers continue to weigh.

Story continues below this ad

As Microsoft invests billions of dollars each year in artificial intelligence infrastructure and development, GitHub is seen as a gateway to bringing AI-powered copilots across Microsoft’s product portfolio- one reason the company is doubling down on GitHub’s AI projects. In January, CEO Satya Nadella announced the formation of the Core AI Platform and Tools Group, led by former Meta executive Jay Parikh. While GitHub has operated largely independently since Microsoft acquired it eight years ago, it is now being more closely integrated into Microsoft’s broader ecosystem.

Curated For You

Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle. Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include: Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech. Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups. Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech. Authoritativeness & Trust Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape. Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

 

Tags:
  • GitHub
Edition
Install the Express App for
a better experience
Featured
Trending Topics
News
Multimedia
Follow Us
Express PremiumHow matcha, kunafa chocolate, and 'ugly-cute' toys defined cool in 2025
X