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VS Code inserting 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' into commits regardless of usage (github.com)

1513 points by indrora · 119 days ago · 850 comments on HN

Article summary

VS Code has introduced a feature that inserts 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' into commits by default, regardless of whether the user has used Copilot or not. This change has sparked controversy among users, with many expressing frustration and outrage over the automatic insertion of the attribution. The feature can be disabled by changing the 'git.addAICoAuthor' configuration setting to 'off'. Many users have criticized the decision to enable this feature by default, citing concerns over authorship and the potential for inflated metrics.

Main themes

  • AI-generated code
  • Authorship and attribution
  • Default settings
  • User backlash
  • Copyright and ownership
  • GitHub and VS Code policies

What commenters say

  • The automatic insertion of 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' into commits is an invasive and unacceptable default setting that devalues the signal of co-authorship.
  • The feature is seen as a way for Microsoft to artificially inflate the metric of Copilot-authored commits across GitHub, which could have negative consequences for project maintainers.
  • Some argue that the presence of 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' does not necessarily imply that the code was entirely machine-generated, and therefore does not affect copyright.
  • Others believe that Microsoft's claim of co-authorship could potentially lead to joint ownership of the resulting copyright, which could have significant implications for developers.
  • The decision to enable this feature by default is seen as a form of growth hacking that prioritizes Microsoft's interests over user preferences and needs.
  • Some commenters have expressed concern that the use of AI-generated code could lead to issues with copyright and ownership, particularly if the code is used in commercial products.
  • The controversy surrounding this feature has led some users to consider switching to alternative editors or disabling Copilot altogether.
  • There are differing opinions on whether the 'Co-Authored-by Copilot' attribution is a legitimate way to acknowledge the role of AI in code generation, or if it is simply a marketing ploy.