Ask Copilot for a repository overview
TL;DR
GitHub Copilot can now generate a repository overview on github.com when you open a project for the first time and have not contributed to it before. According to GitHub, Copilot Chat summarizes the repo’s purpose, technologies used, and contribution guidelines. You can start it from the repo homepage shortcut or through the Copilot icon.
Nauti's Take
Useful, but not a substitute for actually understanding the code. A solid repository overview can save the first 10 minutes of orientation, yet it can create false confidence if teams treat it as documentation.
The best use is as a starting point for sharper questions: which services exist, where is the entry point, which tests matter? GitHub is selling productivity here, but messy repos will decide how good the feature really is.
Briefingshow
For developer teams, this lowers the friction of entering unfamiliar codebases, especially open-source projects, client repos, and older internal systems. The real value depends on whether Copilot identifies actual structure or mainly produces README-style summaries. For maintainers, repo hygiene becomes more visible: weak folder structure and outdated contribution notes will surface faster.
Sources