Claude Opus 4.8 (fast mode) is now in preview for GitHub Copilot
Quick Answer
Claude Opus 4.8 (fast mode) is now in preview on GitHub Copilot, offering faster output token speeds while retaining the model's intelligence.
Quick Take
Available to Copilot Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise users, it comes at a reduced cost compared to previous fast modes but is pricier than standard Claude Opus 4.8.
Key Points
- Fast mode enhances output speed for interactive coding and workflows.
- Available in various IDEs including Visual Studio Code and JetBrains.
- Copilot Enterprise and Business admins must enable fast mode in settings.
- Pricing is based on usage, with reduced costs compared to earlier fast modes.
- Gradual rollout; check back if not yet available.
📖 Reader Mode
~1 min readClaude Opus 4.8 (fast mode) is now rolling out in preview on GitHub Copilot. Fast mode delivers significantly faster output token speeds while maintaining the same intelligence as Claude Opus 4.8, making it well suited for interactive coding and agentic workflows where responsiveness matters.
This model is billed at provider list pricing under Usage Based Billing. Fast mode for Claude Opus 4.8 is offered at a reduced cost compared to previous fast modes, though it still costs more than standard Claude Opus 4.8. See GitHub Copilot’s pricing for models and requests for details.
Availability in GitHub Copilot
Claude Opus 4.8 (fast mode) will be available to Copilot Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise users. You’ll be able to select the model in the model picker in:
- Visual Studio Code
- Visual Studio
- Copilot CLI
- GitHub Copilot cloud agent
- GitHub Copilot app
- github.com
- GitHub Mobile iOS and Android
- JetBrains
- Xcode
- Eclipse
Rollout will be gradual. Check back soon if you don’t see it yet.
Enabling access
Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Business plan administrators must enable the policy for fast mode for Claude Opus 4.8 in Copilot settings. The policy is off by default.
Learn more
To explore all models available in GitHub Copilot, see our documentation on models and get started with Copilot.
Join the GitHub Community to share your feedback.
— Originally published at github.blog
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