So, Why Don't We Have a "High Thinking Mode" in GitHub Copilot Yet?
Hey everyone, let's talk about something that’s been buzzing around in developer circles: the idea of a "High Thinking Mode" for GitHub Copilot, especially with the recent release of GPT-5. It’s this concept of an AI assistant that does more than just autocomplete code—it helps you architect, strategize, & solve the REALLY big problems.
Honestly, it’s a pretty cool idea. But if you’ve been scrolling through your VS Code settings looking for a "High Thinking Mode" toggle since the GPT-5 announcements, you've probably come up empty.
So what's the deal? Is it just vaporware?
Here's the thing: "High Thinking Mode" isn't an official feature you can turn on. It's more of a concept, a wish list from developers for what they want their AI pair programmer to be. But the exciting part is, while the name isn't there, the functionality is starting to arrive in a BIG way with the integration of GPT-5 into GitHub Copilot.
It turns out, what we've been calling "High Thinking Mode" is actually being delivered through a powerful suite of new, more nuanced capabilities. Let's break down what's really going on.
The GPT-5 Rollout: It's Not Just Another Update
First off, the jump to GPT-5 isn't just a minor version bump. The announcements from OpenAI & Microsoft in August 2025 made it clear this is a major leap forward. GPT-5 is being rolled out across all paid Copilot plans, and it's bringing some serious firepower.
The key takeaway is that GPT-5 is designed to be a "true coding collaborator." It's not just about writing code faster; it's about writing it better & with more understanding. The new model delivers some pretty hefty improvements in a few key areas that directly address what we'd expect from a "High Thinking Mode."
Deeper Reasoning & Problem Solving
One of the most significant upgrades is in the model's reasoning ability. According to OpenAI, GPT-5 excels at handling "end-to-end complex coding tasks" & can provide clear explanations for its actions. This is a game-changer.
Think about it. A junior dev can churn out lines of code. A senior dev or an architect understands the why behind the code. They can reason through complex requirements, anticipate edge cases, & make strategic decisions. This is the gap GPT-5 is starting to bridge.
Microsoft highlighted that with GPT-5, Copilot is better at reasoning through complex questions & staying on track in longer conversations. There’s even a "deep reasoning model" that can be used for more complex scenarios. This model is designed to craft a plan, gather context, & check its work before delivering a response. That sounds a LOT like "high thinking," doesn't it? It’s about moving beyond simple "what" questions (e.g., "what's the syntax for a for loop?") to more complex "how" & "why" questions (e.g., "how should I structure this microservice & why is that the best approach?").
The Rise of the "Agentic" Assistant
Another term you’ll see thrown around a lot with GPT-5 is "agentic capabilities." This is HUGE. An agentic AI doesn't just respond to a prompt; it can take a complex task, break it down into steps, & work on it autonomously.
OpenAI says that GPT-5 is more proactive at completing ambitious tasks without needing constant hand-holding. It can even output plans, updates, & recaps as it works. This is a fundamental shift in how we interact with AI. Instead of asking it to write a single function, you could potentially ask it to refactor an entire module, and it would plan the changes, show you the plan, & then execute it.
This is exactly what developers have been asking for. Research shows that developers want to be elevated to the role of a "solution architect," focusing on the big picture while the AI handles the more granular implementation details. This new agentic behavior is the first real step in that direction.
More Than Just Code: Context is King
One of the biggest limitations of older AI assistants was their lack of context. They might understand the file you're currently in, but they often missed the bigger picture of the entire codebase.
GPT-5 is designed to have a much deeper understanding of context. It's better at navigating large codebases & understanding how different parts of an application fit together. This allows it to make much more intelligent suggestions, whether it's for refactoring, debugging, or adding new features. It can help you understand unfamiliar codebases or modernize legacy systems, which are tasks that require a high level of understanding.
This improved context awareness is crucial for "high thinking." You can't think strategically if you only have a tiny piece of the puzzle. By understanding the entire project, Copilot can start to act more like a seasoned team member who has been on the project for a while, not just a fresh hire who only knows about the one file they were assigned.
So, How Do You Access This "High Thinking Mode"?
Okay, so if it's not a switch, how do you actually use these new capabilities?
It's about changing how you interact with Copilot.
- Use the Chat: The Copilot Chat interface in VS Code, GitHub.com, & other IDEs is where you can really leverage the new reasoning power. Instead of just accepting code completions, open up the chat & have a conversation. Ask it to explain complex code, suggest architectural patterns, or help you plan a new feature.
- Be Ambitious with Your Prompts: Don't be afraid to give it larger, more complex tasks. Instead of "write a function that sorts this list," try "refactor this class to be more efficient & follow the SOLID principles."
- Check for the GPT-5 Option: In your Copilot settings, you should be able to see a model picker. Make sure you've selected GPT-5 to take advantage of the latest capabilities. For businesses, admins may need to enable the GPT-5 policy first.
- Leverage Agentic Features: Experiment with giving Copilot tasks that require multiple steps. For example, "Analyze this codebase for potential performance bottlenecks & suggest improvements."
This evolution of Copilot is part of a much larger trend. Businesses of all kinds are looking for ways to use AI to automate complex processes & enhance human capabilities. It's not just about coding.
Think about customer service, for instance. For years, chatbots were pretty basic. They could answer simple FAQ-style questions but would fail at anything more complex. Now, companies are building much more sophisticated AI assistants.
This is where platforms like Arsturn come into the picture. Arsturn helps businesses create custom AI chatbots trained on their own data. This allows them to provide instant, 24/7 customer support that can handle much more nuanced conversations. Instead of just pointing a customer to a help article, a modern AI chatbot can understand the customer's specific problem, ask clarifying questions, & guide them to a solution—much like a human agent would. It’s a form of "high thinking" for customer interactions.
Similarly, for lead generation & website engagement, the goal is no longer just to pop up a generic "Can I help you?" window. Businesses are using conversational AI to have meaningful interactions with visitors. A platform like Arsturn allows you to build a no-code AI chatbot that can qualify leads, answer detailed product questions, & provide a personalized experience for each user. This helps build a real connection with the audience & boost conversions in a way that simple, static forms never could.
What we're seeing with GitHub Copilot & the rise of platforms like Arsturn is the same underlying shift: AI is moving from a simple tool to a true collaborator.
The Road Ahead
So, while we might not have a button labeled "High Thinking Mode" in GitHub Copilot, the core functionality is here & it's only going to get better. The integration of GPT-5 is a massive step towards an AI assistant that can help with the most challenging aspects of software development: architecture, strategy, & complex problem-solving.
The key for us as developers is to adapt our workflows & learn how to best leverage these new capabilities. Start treating Copilot less like an autocomplete tool & more like a junior partner you can delegate tasks to & collaborate with. The more you push its boundaries, the more you'll realize that the "High Thinking Mode" we've all been waiting for is finally within reach.
Hope this was helpful! I'm pretty excited to see where this goes. Let me know what you think.