OpenAI has released its latest model, GPT-4.1, and it's now available in GitHub Copilot and GitHub Models. This means you can now use OpenAI’s newest and smartest model directly in your coding tools.
GPT-4.1 is better than GPT-4.0 in many ways. It’s especially stronger at.
- Writing and understanding code
- Following instructions correctly
- Understanding longer conversations or code snippets
- Providing faster and smarter responses
It also has a larger memory for context and uses the latest knowledge available up to June 2024.
Improved for Real-World Coding
GPT-4.1 was fine-tuned based on what developers asked for. Here’s what’s better now.
- Frontend coding support (like HTML, CSS, JS)
- Fewer unnecessary edits
- More reliable formatting
- Better structure in responses
- Consistent tool usage
These improvements make GPT-4.1 a great default option for tasks like debugging, refactoring, testing, and more.
Available in Copilot (Even for Free Users!)
You can now use GPT-4.1 in all Copilot plans, including Copilot Free.
To use it,
- Open Visual Studio Code or go to github.com.
- Choose “GPT-4.1 (Preview)” from the model picker.
- Start using it for help with your code whether you're fixing bugs, updating old code, or writing something new.
For Copilot Enterprise Admins
If you're a Copilot Enterprise admin, you need to turn on access to GPT-4.1 in the Copilot settings.
Steps
- Go to your Copilot settings
- Find the GPT-4.1 policy option
- Set it to enabled
Once that’s done, your team will be able to use GPT-4.1 in both VS Code and GitHub Chat.
GPT-4.1 in GitHub Models Playground
If you use GitHub Models, you can now try GPT-4.1 in the Models Playground.
What you can do.
- Test sample prompts
- Experiment with AI-generated ideas
- Compare GPT-4.1 with other AI models like Cohere, DeepSeek, Meta, and Microsoft
It’s a great space to explore and build in using the newest AI technology from OpenAI.
Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.