How to Run VS Code AI Mode to Boost Coding

Artificial Intelligence is changing how developers write code — and Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is leading the way with its built-in AI Mode and integration options like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT extensions, and other AI coding assistants.

If you’re a developer looking to boost productivity, write cleaner code, and automate repetitive tasks, enabling AI Mode in VS Code can transform your workflow.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to run and use AI Mode in VS Code on Windows 11, explain what it does, and share tips to get the most out of it.

What Is AI Mode in VS Code?

AI Mode in VS Code refers to using artificial intelligence extensions — like GitHub Copilot, Copilot Chat, and ChatGPT for VS Code — that help generate, debug, and optimize code.

These tools use advanced AI models to:

• Suggest code completions as you type
• Generate functions or boilerplate code
• Explain or refactor existing code
• Write comments or documentation automatically
• Help you fix bugs in real-time

Think of it as coding with an intelligent partner that understands your context and predicts what you need next.

How to Run VS Code AI Mode to Boost Coding

Before setting up AI Mode in VS Code, make sure you have Visual Studio Code installed on Windows 11, an active internet connection, and a GitHub or OpenAI account depending on which AI extension you plan to use.

It’s also important to have the latest version of VS Code to ensure compatibility with AI features and extensions. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download VS Code from the official website.

Step 1: Install VS Code

If you haven’t installed VS Code yet:

1. Visit https://code.visualstudio.com/Download.
2. Select Windows → click Download User Installer (x64).
3. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard:
   • Accept the license agreement.
   • Choose Add to PATH (recommended).
   • Enable Register Code as an editor for supported file types.
4. Click Install → Finish.

Once installed, launch Visual Studio Code.

Step 2: Enable GitHub Copilot (AI Mode)

GitHub Copilot is the official AI-powered coding assistant for VS Code. It’s deeply integrated and can generate real-time code suggestions as you type.

Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open VS Code and click on the Extensions icon on the left sidebar (or press Ctrl + Shift + X).
2. Search for GitHub Copilot.
3. Click Install.
4. Once installed, click Sign in to GitHub and authorize Copilot access.

After setup, you’ll see Copilot start suggesting code automatically as you type.
You can press:

• Tab → to accept the suggestion.
• Ctrl + ] → to view alternative suggestions.

Tip: You can toggle Copilot on or off anytime by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P, then typing Copilot: Enable or Copilot: Disable.

Step 3: Use Copilot Chat (Optional but Powerful)

Want AI that can answer coding questions right inside VS Code?
You can install GitHub Copilot Chat, which adds a chat panel similar to ChatGPT, allowing you to interact with AI directly.

To set it up:

1. Go to the Extensions tab.
2. Search for GitHub Copilot Chat and install it.
3. Open the chat panel by clicking the Copilot Chat icon in the sidebar.
4. Ask things like:
   • “Explain this Python function.”
   • “Optimize my JavaScript loop.”
   • “Write a SQL query for this table.”

This feature can save hours of debugging or research time by letting you query AI directly in your workspace.

Step 4: Try ChatGPT Extension for VS Code

If you prefer OpenAI’s ChatGPT, there’s a popular VS Code extension for it too.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. In VS Code, open the Extensions marketplace.
2. Search for ChatGPT – CodeGPT or ChatGPT by OpenAI.
3. Click Install.
4. You’ll be prompted to log in with your OpenAI API key.
   (You can get this key from your OpenAI account under View API Keys.)
5. Once connected, open the ChatGPT sidebar and start chatting.

You can ask it to:

• Explain code snippets.
• Generate code blocks.
• Fix or debug errors.
• Write documentation or comments.

Pro Tip: You can even highlight a piece of code, right-click, and select “Ask ChatGPT” for instant feedback or improvement suggestions.

Step 5: Use AI Tools Side by Side

You can use both GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT extensions together in VS Code.
Copilot provides inline code completions, while ChatGPT offers contextual explanations and larger solutions.

For example:

• Let Copilot write short code snippets while typing.
• Use ChatGPT to generate an entire class, refactor a function, or explain complex logic.

This combination creates a complete AI-powered development workflow inside VS Code.

Step 6: Customize AI Settings

You can control how AI behaves inside VS Code for better focus and accuracy.

To customize Copilot:

1. Go to File → Preferences → Settings.
2. Search for Copilot.
3. You can toggle:
   • Enable/Disable suggestions
   • Auto-complete delay
   • Inline suggestion visibility

Similarly, ChatGPT extensions often include configurable prompts, model selections (like GPT-4), and token limits.

Wrapping Up

And that’s how you can run and use AI Mode in VS Code to supercharge your coding workflow.

With tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, you can write code faster, understand complex logic, and even fix bugs without leaving your editor.

Whether you’re a beginner writing your first program or an experienced developer managing large projects, AI Mode in VS Code helps you focus more on logic and creativity — and less on syntax errors.