Microsoft published three Azure canvases for GitHub Copilot on September 29, 2026, introducing interactive workspaces for cloud tasks that would otherwise be managed through a chat transcript. The canvases let developers inspect information, adjust controls and approve steps while Copilot remains available beside the workspace.
A Workspace Beside Chat
Canvas extensions place dashboards, editors and guided workflows inside the GitHub Copilot app. Instead of searching through earlier messages to understand an agent's progress, users can keep relevant controls and results visible as they work. Microsoft describes the canvas as a shared environment in which the user can review changes and decide what the agent should do next.
Routine interface actions, including filtering a table or choosing an option, can execute directly in code. Microsoft says this avoids an additional model call for simple interactions, potentially reducing waiting time and the use of AI credits while reserving the agent for tasks that require its assistance.
Three Azure Workflows
The initial set covers three types of Azure work. Azure Functions Hosted Skills supports building automated workflows, Azure Resources Query helps locate resources across environments, and Azure Cost Health Check examines subscription spending. Microsoft presents these as task-specific interfaces rather than a single general-purpose Azure dashboard.
The canvases are distributed as plugins through the Awesome Copilot marketplace. They can also be found in the featured canvas area under the GitHub Copilot app's customization controls. Once installed, a canvas opens next to the conversation when Copilot begins the corresponding workflow.
Setup Requirements
Using the Azure canvases requires the Azure CLI and an authenticated Azure session established with az login, allowing the plugins to use the developer's Azure identity. After installing a plugin, users must begin a new Copilot session before its canvas and associated skills become available.
The announcement does not describe broader platform support, pricing or separate access terms for the canvases. The documented workflow is specifically tied to the GitHub Copilot app, the Awesome Copilot marketplace and an existing Azure sign-in.
AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary photograph.
Source: Build with Azure Canvases: a shared workspace for agents
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