AI Agent - Aug 13, 2026

MAI-Code-1.1-Flash in GitHub Copilot: Access Guide

Quick Answer

MAI-Code-1.1-Flash is generally available in GitHub Copilot during a rollout announced August 11, 2026. Copilot Free and Student users get it through automatic model selection. Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise can manually select it as well as use auto selection—after the model reaches the account and any organization policy permits it.

For Copilot Business and Enterprise, GitHub says the model policy is off by default. An administrator must enable it in Copilot settings.

Supported Copilot Surfaces

GitHub announced selection in Copilot CLI, cloud agent, the Copilot app, Copilot Chat on GitHub, VS Code, Visual Studio, GitHub Mobile, JetBrains IDEs, Eclipse, and Xcode.

A launch list is not proof that every client currently exposes the picker. Verify:

  • the signed-in plan and account;
  • organization and enterprise policy inheritance;
  • current client and extension version;
  • gradual rollout status;
  • manual versus automatic selection;
  • image input and tool support on that surface.

Plan and Selection Matrix

User contextSelection pathMain check
Copilot FreeAutomaticAuto selection can choose the model; no promise of manual selection
Copilot StudentAutomaticSame rollout and current entitlement check
Pro / Pro+ / MaxManual or automaticModel picker, current plan, allowance, billing
Business / EnterpriseManual or automatic after policyAdministrator must enable the policy; GitHub says it is off by default

How an Administrator Enables Access

Use the current Copilot model policy settings for the organization or enterprise. Confirm the specific MAI-Code-1.1-Flash policy is enabled, then verify with an individual account and the model selector in VS Code or on GitHub.com.

Record the policy owner, scope, enablement date, pilot group, approved repositories, data policy, budget, and rollback. Policy enablement makes selection possible; it does not prove that the model fits every repository or task.

Billing Boundary

GitHub says annual subscribers are charged a 0.25× premium request multiplier for this model. It separately lists provider token prices under usage-based billing. Do not multiply, combine, or generalize those numbers without confirming the current account’s plan and billing model.

Use the vision, cost and performance guide to build a completed-task cost test.

Safe First Test

  1. Choose a small, owned repository with passing tests.
  2. Pin a reversible task and known acceptance criteria.
  3. Confirm the selected model in the current surface.
  4. Measure the suggestion, tool actions, token or request usage, elapsed time, and reviewer edits.
  5. Run tests, security checks, and human review before accepting code.
  6. Compare with the current model on the same task set.

The model can propose and execute coding steps through Copilot surfaces, but repository access, tool permissions, merge authority, and production deployment remain separate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MAI-Code-1.1-Flash available in GitHub Copilot?

Yes. GitHub announced general availability during a gradual rollout beginning August 11, 2026. Current account, client, and policy status still determine whether it appears.

Can Copilot Free users manually select it?

GitHub says Free and Student users receive it through automatic model selection. The launch does not promise manual selection for those tiers.

Which paid plans can manually select the model?

GitHub lists Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise, subject to rollout and organization policy.

Why is the model missing for my organization?

Check rollout, client version, plan, enterprise and organization policy. GitHub says the MAI-Code-1.1-Flash policy is off by default for Business and Enterprise.

Does enabling the policy approve every repository task?

No. It enables model access. Repository access, data use, tools, code acceptance, merge rights, and deployment authority need separate controls.

Official Sources

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