GitHub Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered coding assistant, has now crossed 20 million all-time users, according to CEO Satya Nadella during the company’s recent earnings call.
It’s a major milestone for a tool that’s quickly become one of the most widely used AI products in software development today.
A Big Jump in a Short Time
This new number reflects total users who’ve ever used Copilot — not necessarily daily or monthly active users. Still, the growth is impressive.
Just a few months ago, in April, Copilot had around 15 million users. That means 5 million new users have jumped in since then — a clear sign that interest in AI tools for coding isn’t slowing down.
What’s more, 90 out of the Fortune 100 companies are now using Copilot in some form. GitHub also shared that enterprise adoption is up 75% compared to the last quarter.
Developers Are Paying for AI Help GitHub Copilot
AI tools are everywhere now, but many of them are still figuring out how to make real money. Copilot seems to be one of the exceptions.
Microsoft says Copilot is now a bigger business than GitHub itself was when they bought it back in 2018. That’s saying a lot — and it speaks to how much developers (and the companies they work for) are willing to invest in tools that save them time.
Unlike casual chatbot tools, AI coding assistants offer real value to a focused group of users: software engineers. And those users often work for companies that don’t mind paying for productivity.
Copilot vs. Cursor: A New Rival Emerges
Of course, Copilot isn’t alone in this space. A newer tool called Cursor is quickly rising through the ranks.
In March, Cursor reportedly had over 1 million people using it every day, and was pulling in around $200 million in annual recurring revenue. Today, Cursor’s ARR is estimated to be more than $500 million — a huge jump in just a few months.
While Copilot and Cursor originally focused on different aspects of coding, they’re now becoming more alike. Both tools have rolled out AI features to catch bugs, review code, and even handle certain programming tasks automatically.
Competition Is Heating Up Fast
GitHub and Cursor aren’t the only players in this race. Several big names are investing heavily in AI tools for coders:
- Google bought Windsurf’s AI coding team.
- Cognition, the company behind the AI agent Devin, acquired the rest of that team.
- OpenAI is working on Codex, one of Copilot’s original engines.
- Anthropic is developing Claude Code, a rival product designed to assist with coding tasks.
Everyone wants a piece of the growing market for AI tools that help engineers do their jobs faster and more efficiently.
GitHub’s Secret Weapon: Ecosystem + Trust
So why is Copilot still ahead, despite the competition?
- It’s already integrated into GitHub, where most developers host their code.
- It has the backing of Microsoft, which gives it a strong presence in enterprise environments.
- Developers trust it because it’s been around longer and keeps improving.
- It’s not just helping with code suggestions — it’s evolving into a fully functional AI teammate.
And now, GitHub is going even further. Nadella mentioned that the company is working on AI coding agents that don’t just help with suggestions, but can automate full workflows — everything from writing to testing to reviewing code.
Key Highlights at a Glance
Here’s a quick summary of what’s happening:
- GitHub Copilot has crossed 20 million total users.
- 5 million new users joined in the last 3 months alone.
- 90% of Fortune 100 companies use it.
- Enterprise adoption is up 75% since last quarter.
- Copilot now earns more than GitHub did in 2018.
- Cursor, a fast-growing rival, is making waves with $500M+ in revenue.
- New players like Google, Cognition, OpenAI, and Anthropic are entering the space.
- AI tools are shifting from assistants to full coding agents.
What This Means for Developers and GitHub Copilot
Whether you’re a solo developer or working at a large company, AI tools like Copilot are becoming essential. They help you:
- Speed up coding tasks.
- Catch bugs before they cause problems.
- Stay focused by handling repetitive work.
As more companies adopt these tools, knowing how to use them could become a core skill for modern developers — much like using version control or cloud platforms.
Final Thoughts
This space is moving fast. Just a couple of years ago, most developers didn’t even consider using AI to write code. Now, tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor are changing how software gets built — and doing it at scale.
The rise of AI coding tools is no longer a trend. It’s the new normal.
For companies that want to stay competitive, and developers who want to stay ahead, the message is clear: it’s time to get on board.