- Sources: primary, discussion
- Summary: The GitHub changelog entry, dated 2026-09-01, states that Copilot code review can now approve a pull request, that the ability is off by default, and that it is configurable at the enterprise, organization and repository level. Repository admins can turn approvals on or off and choose which file paths Copilot is allowed to approve. GitHub distinguishes the approval assessment, a signal in the overview comment that does not count toward merge requirements, from an enabled approval, and states that when approvals are turned on Copilot can submit an approval that counts toward the repository's required-approvals rule, and that pushing new commits dismisses Copilot's approval as it does a human reviewer's. GitHub states the feature is in public preview on the Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business and Enterprise plans.
- Why it matters: Once an admin turns approvals on, a Copilot approval counts toward the repository's required-approvals rule, so an automated reviewer can satisfy a branch protection gate that previously took a human.
- Follow-up: Track whether the feature leaves public preview and whether GitHub changes the off-by-default posture.
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