# GitHub — GitHub Copilot Fusion now supports selection of local models

- Company: GitHub (github.com)
- Announced: 2026-10-28T15:30:42+00:00
- Category: capability-change
- Coverage: not counted
- Announcement: yes
- Group: announcements
- Source: https://github.blog/changelog/2026-10-28-github-copilot-fusion-now-supports-selection-of-local-models
- Record: https://forck.live/items/28837-github-copilot-fusion-now-supports-selection-of-local-models
- Subject: Copilot
- Models affected: MAI Code 1.1 Flash, Qwen3.8 Flash Next

GitHub is shipping intelligent routing for local models in GitHub Copilot Fusion as an opt-in experimental preview, letting Copilot choose between supported on-device models and cloud models. The routing works in GitHub Copilot CLI, the GitHub Copilot app and Visual Studio Code, so developers can use their device's compute without switching models manually for each request. On supported Windows devices, MAI Code 1.1 Flash can be downloaded and configured through the Windows ML provider, and Windows ML local models is enabled by default on Windows. The managed download experience is Windows-only, but Copilot CLI's local Copilot Fusion routing also works with manually configured models on Windows, macOS and Linux. Users can configure MAI Code 1.1 Flash or Qwen3.8 Flash Next through a local OpenAI-compatible server, managing the download and inference runtime themselves, and then select Standard in Copilot Fusion to let Copilot choose between eligible local and cloud models. GitHub warns that local inference does not make a session offline, since Copilot Fusion still makes routing decisions in the cloud, and local models may have different safety protections from Copilot-provided cloud models. Adding or discovering a model through bring your own key configuration does not automatically make it eligible for Copilot Fusion, and the Copilot app's intelligent routing currently supports managed Windows ML models only.

## Evidence

Verbatim from https://github.blog/changelog/2026-10-28-github-copilot-fusion-now-supports-selection-of-local-models:

> Today we are shipping intelligent routing for local models into experimental preview. GitHub Copilot Fusion can now choose between supported on-device models and cloud models, enabling intelligent local model routing in GitHub Copilot CLI, GitHub Copilot app, and Visual Studio Code. This opt-in experimental preview lets you use your device’s compute without switching models manually for each request. For a deeper dive into this feature, see our original announcement on October 7th .
> 
> On supported Windows devices, you can download and configure MAI Code 1.1 Flash through the Windows ML provider.
> 
> In Copilot CLI , enable experimental mode and open /model to follow the setup prompts.
> 
> In the Copilot app , configure the Windows ML provider under Settings > Model providers , enable Local model auto routing under Settings > Experiments , and start a new session. Windows ML local models is enabled by default on Windows.
> 
> In VS Code , enable chat.copilot.localModel.enabled .
> 
> Once the model is ready, select Standard in Copilot Fusion to let Copilot choose between local and cloud models. You can also select the local model directly for your session.

---

Record: https://forck.live/items/28837-github-copilot-fusion-now-supports-selection-of-local-models
Catalogue: https://forck.live/llms.txt
Current issue: https://forck.live/feed.md