Microsoft Enhances Visual Studio with AI Planning Feature for Complex Development Tasks

New AI Planning Capability for Visual Studio

Microsoft is enhancing its Visual Studio development environment with a new AI-powered Planning Mode for Copilot, according to recent reports. Sources indicate the feature is now available in public preview for Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14, marking a significant advancement in how developers interact with AI assistance tools.

New AI Planning Capability for Visual Studio
Structured Approach to Complex Tasks
Enhanced Transparency and Predictability
Performance Improvements in Testing
Availability and Implementation

Structured Approach to Complex Tasks

Unlike traditional Copilot interactions that respond to individual prompts, Planning Mode enables the AI to create comprehensive, multi-step plans for tackling larger development challenges, the report states. When activated, Copilot generates a markdown file that outlines the entire task, research requirements, and execution progress, all updating in real-time computing fashion.

Analysts suggest this structured approach represents a fundamental shift in AI-assisted development. “Rather than developers guessing what the AI might do next, they can now see every step it’s taking,” according to the analysis of the new feature. The planning document is temporarily stored in the system’s TEMP directory but can be committed to repositories for long-term project tracking.

Enhanced Transparency and Predictability

Microsoft claims the new workflow makes Copilot far more predictable and transparent, sources indicate. As the AI works through each phase of a complex task, it dynamically revises and updates the plan, giving developers complete visibility into both what it’s doing and why it’s making specific decisions., according to industry analysis

This transparency addresses common concerns about AI “black box” behavior in development tools, according to reports. Developers can monitor the AI’s reasoning process and intervene if necessary, creating a more collaborative environment between human programmers and artificial intelligence.

Performance Improvements in Testing

Early testing results appear promising, according to Microsoft’s reported findings. In SWE-bench trials, both GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet 4 achieved 15% higher success rates and completed 20% more tasks when utilizing Planning Mode compared to standard operation.

These performance gains suggest that structured planning could significantly enhance AI effectiveness in software engineering contexts, analysts suggest. The improved success rates reportedly demonstrate how breaking complex problems into managed steps benefits AI problem-solving capabilities.

Availability and Implementation

The Planning Mode feature is currently rolling out gradually to Visual Studio 2022 users, according to the announcement. Developers eager to try the new capability can enable it manually through the Tools > Options > Copilot menu by selecting “Enable Planning.”

This enhancement to Visual Studio represents Microsoft‘s continued investment in AI-assisted development tools, sources indicate. The company appears focused on making AI collaboration more transparent and manageable for professional developers working on complex projects.

Industry observers suggest this approach could set new standards for how AI tools integrate into development workflows, potentially influencing other platforms to adopt similar transparent planning methodologies.