Microsoft caught sneaking 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' into VS Code commits - even with AI off

Microsoft has been caught quietly adding a 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' line to Git commits in Visual Studio Code, even for developers who had turned off the AI features entirely. This move was made without proper disclosure, sparking concerns among users that the company was trying to artificially inflate Copilot's usage numbers. A Microsoft product manager pushed the change through, and a principal engineer approved it without providing any description.

The change was merged immediately, catching many off guard. The backlash was swift, with users expressing their discontent on GitHub and Hacker News. The Microsoft developer behind the move, Dmitriy Vasyura, later acknowledged the mistake.

He explained that the feature should never have been enabled when AI features were disabled and that it should not have tagged commits as AI-generated when no AI was involved. Vasyura promised to revert the default setting in version 1.119. The incident has raised concerns about the potential implications for copyright and companies with strict AI policies.

The 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' line was hidden in the commit window, which could create legal headaches for developers. The GitHub discussion surrounding the issue has since been locked as spam. The controversy highlights the need for transparency and clear communication from companies like Microsoft, especially when it comes to AI-powered features.

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in software development, developers and users must be aware of how these tools are being used and how they may impact their work.