GitHub Copilot CLI now supports custom agents defined as Markdown files in repositories, allowing teams to encode their standards into reusable workflows.

GitHub is introducing custom agents for Copilot CLI—AI assistants that teams can define using Markdown files stored in a `.github/agents` directory. Each agent profile specifies the agent's role, which tools it can access, and guardrails that keep outputs consistent and safe.

Instead of one-off prompts, developers can now create specialized agents for repeated tasks (e.g., a security audit agent that runs standard checks and outputs a PR-ready checklist, or an IaC compliance agent that reviews infrastructure code against organizational policies). Because the agent profile lives in the repository, teams can review, version, and share it.

Custom agents work directly in the terminal via the `/agents` slash command in GitHub Copilot CLI, executing the same workflow consistently each time. The approach lets teams tailor Copilot CLI with expertise for specific development tasks without starting from scratch.