SNACK: 3-line summary
- GitHub Copilot code review now supports requests through REST and GraphQL APIs.
- Default has used Balanced since September 28; explicitly selected Lite settings stay unchanged.
- Balanced analyzes more deeply, but uses more AI credits and may consume slightly more GitHub Actions minutes.
A script or internal tool can now ask GitHub Copilot to review a pull request. GitHub’s October 2, 2026 announcement adds REST and GraphQL API support, bringing review requests into workflows a team already uses.
Snackgirls react
AIKO: I’d like to make the review request a deliberate step in a workflow. The interesting bit for me is deciding exactly when that step should fire.
Red: I want to see which parts of a tricky change it flags. Then I’d work through the comments and see whether it spotted something I overlooked.
Choose review depth with each API request
An API is an interface software can call. In this case, your tools can request a Copilot review and optionally choose the review effort level for that request. You can still request a Copilot review manually without using an API.
API support is generally available on Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business and Enterprise plans.
Balanced became the default on September 28
The announcement also confirms that Default now selects Balanced for new and existing repositories and organizations using Copilot code review. This change took effect on September 28, 2026. If you explicitly selected Lite, that choice was preserved.
Lite provides standard review. GitHub describes Balanced as deeper analysis of complex logic, security-sensitive code and changes across services. Balanced reviews use more AI credits and may consume slightly more GitHub Actions minutes.
Choose Lite or Balanced in Copilot settings
For your personal setting, open your profile picture → Copilot settings → Copilot → Code review, then find Review effort level. For repositories or organizations you manage, look under Copilot → Code review in the relevant settings. Enterprise controls are under AI controls → Agents → Copilot code review.
Review effort is separate from automatic code review. Turning automatic review off does not clear the effort setting, which still applies to reviews you request manually.
Check the findings before acting on them, and keep human approval in your workflow. An AI review does not guarantee that every bug has been caught.
Sources and date: 2026-10-03 KST