Using Visual Studio Code’s ‘air-gapped’ AI model mode

Microsoft is stepping up its efforts to integrate AI services within Visual Studio Code, specifically with GitHub Copilot, to boost developer productivity through features like inline autocomplete. However, some users prefer using different AI models or locally hosted large language models. The latest version of Visual Studio Code, 1.122, now allows the use of "Bring Your Own Key" without requiring a GitHub account, giving developers more flexibility and control over their AI tools, which is significant for those wary of cloud-based services. This move underscores the growing demand for customizable, secure AI environments in software development.