GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot in VS Code offers bring-your-own-key (BYOK), which lets you point chat requests at a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Set the endpoint to aicentos and fill in the key created in the console, and the models aicentos offers become available in Copilot Chat / Agent.

PrerequisitesCopy anchor link

First create a dedicated key for Copilot on the console's "API Keys" page (naming it copilot-vscode or copilot-work makes usage easier to track).

• Console: https://aicentos.com
• Create a key: https://aicentos.com/keys
• Top up when the balance runs out: https://aicentos.com/wallet

Also make sure your local VS Code and the GitHub Copilot Chat extension are updated to a version that supports custom endpoints; older versions only offer built-in vendor BYOK with no generic "custom endpoint" entry.

Configuration to fill inCopy anchor link

Setup stepsCopy anchor link

Option 1: Graphical interfaceCopy anchor link

• Open the Chat view in VS Code.
• Click the model picker above the input box and choose Manage Language Models (Manage Models... in older versions).
• Click Add Models and pick Custom Endpoint (OpenAI Compatible in older versions) from the provider list.
• Enter a group name and the API Key.
• Choose Chat Completions as the API type.
• Complete the model details as prompted: id is the model name from the console, url is https://aicentos.com/v1/chat/completions.
• After saving, go back to Chat and select the newly added model in the model dropdown.

Option 2: settings.jsonCopy anchor link

Run Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON) from the command palette and add:

{
  "github.copilot.chat.customOAIModels": {
    "aicentos-gpt": {
      "name": "aicentos GPT",
      "url": "https://aicentos.com/v1/chat/completions",
      "toolCalling": true,
      "vision": false,
      "maxInputTokens": 128000,
      "maxOutputTokens": 16384
    }
  }
}

The outermost key of the object (e.g. aicentos-gpt) is the model ID shown in the model picker and must be unique.

Reference documentation: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/language-models

TestCopy anchor link

After saving the settings, start a new conversation in Chat and send a simple prompt first; a normal response means the connection works. Then move on to Agent / Edit mode for real work.

NotesCopy anchor link

• BYOK only applies to Chat / Agent / Edit; it does not cover inline code completion (Tab completion). Semantic search, embeddings and similar features still go through Copilot's own service.
• To use Agent mode, the model must support tool calling and toolCalling must be true; otherwise the model will not appear in the model picker.
• The url field must be the full https://aicentos.com/v1/chat/completions, not just up to /v1.
• github.copilot.chat.customOAIModels is the older form; newer versions use chatLanguageModels.json together with customendpoint. Follow whatever entry point your current VS Code version actually offers.
• With GitHub Copilot Business / Enterprise, administrators may disable BYOK through policy.
• If a newly added model does not show up right away, restart VS Code once.
• When errors occur, check in order: whether the key has extra spaces, whether the model name matches the console, whether the account balance is sufficient, and whether the API type is correct. Top up at https://aicentos.com/wallet if the balance runs out.