GitHub Copilot is a generative AI tool deployed by the Public Service Commission of Canada to assist developers and data specialists in writing code more efficiently. The system integrates directly into the development environments used by PSC staff, providing real-time suggestions for code generation, code quality review, and general programming assistance. As of mid-2025, this tool is in the pilot phase, with licenses deployed to a limited number of developers to measure its impact and effectiveness before broader rollout.
The system does not process personal information about individuals. Instead, it works with internal code repositories and development workflows specific to PSC staff. Users should understand that GitHub Copilot is a vendor solution provided by Microsoft, and that code submitted to the system may be processed by external AI models as part of the service delivery.
This pilot deployment allows PSC to evaluate whether GitHub Copilot improves development speed and code quality while managing associated costs and risks. Government employees using this tool should be aware of their rights regarding the code they input and any outputs generated by the system.
