April 2026 — Developers using GitHub Copilot are being alerted to a significant policy change: beginning April 24, 2026, GitHub will start using Copilot interaction data to train its AI models by default, unless users explicitly opt out in their account settings.
This update affects individual Copilot users, including Free, Pro, and Pro+ plans, and is aimed at improving AI-generated code suggestions using real-world developer interactions.
What’s Changing?
From April 24, GitHub will collect and use interaction data such as:
- Prompts and inputs sent to Copilot
- Generated outputs and accepted code suggestions
- Code snippets and surrounding context
- Feedback on suggestions (thumbs up/down)
- Documentation and comments related to interactions
This information may be used to train and refine GitHub’s AI models for better accuracy and contextual understanding.
Who Is Affected?
The new policy applies to:
- Copilot Free users
- Copilot Pro users
- Copilot Pro+ users
However, Copilot Business and Enterprise accounts are excluded from this change, meaning their interaction data will not be used for training under the new default setting.
Opt-Out — It’s Enabled by Default
One of the most discussed aspects of the update is that data sharing is enabled by default, requiring developers to manually opt out if they do not want their data used for training.
Users can disable this in GitHub settings under Copilot privacy preferences. Preferences previously set to opt out will continue to be respected.
GitHub’s Reason for the Change
GitHub says the move is designed to improve model performance by leveraging real-world usage patterns. The company notes that better training data can lead to more accurate code suggestions, improved bug detection, and smarter context-aware assistance.
Privacy and Data Sharing Clarifications
- GitHub states that stored content in private repositories is not used for training.
- Interaction data may be shared with GitHub affiliates such as Microsoft.
- Data is not shared with independent third-party AI providers.
Developer Reactions
The default opt-in approach has sparked debate within the developer community, with some raising concerns about privacy, proprietary code, and transparency. Critics argue that users should be asked explicitly before their data contributes to AI training.
What You Should Do
If you use GitHub Copilot:
- Go to your GitHub account settings
- Open Copilot features/privacy
- Disable “Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training” (if desired)
- Save your preferences before April 24
Bottom Line
GitHub’s policy update reflects a broader trend across AI tools: using real-world user interactions to continuously improve models. While this can lead to smarter coding assistance, it also places responsibility on developers to review and manage their privacy preferences.
April 24 is the key date — after that, your Copilot interactions may be used for AI training unless you opt out.