Microsoft has released version 1.137 of Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a popular code editor used by developers across Windows, Linux, macOS, and web browsers. This update introduces several new features aimed at improving the interaction with AI coding assistants, known as "agents." These features include the ability to automate tasks for AI agents on a schedule, an experimental voice mode for conversing with agents, and the option to continue conversations in a workspace without losing context. Additionally, users can now manage GitHub tickets and pull requests directly from the "Agents" window. The update, released on September 9, 2026, includes a feature called "Automations," which is currently in preview. This allows users to schedule recurring tasks for AI agents, such as running them every hour, day, or week. To use this feature, users must enable the chat.automations.enabled setting, open the "Agents" window, and select "Automations" from the sidebar. Once set up, automations can be triggered manually or automatically based on the schedule. Another experimental feature is "Voice Mode," which enables users to interact with AI agents using voice commands. By enabling the agent.voice.enabled option and selecting the "Voice Mode" button in the chat input window, users can speak to the agent while it works on their code. Voice mode detects active sessions and can answer questions related to the current project, model, or attached files. Users can also choose to display a transcript of the conversation or select the voice that will read responses aloud. VS Code 1.137 also allows users to continue conversations in a workspace seamlessly. For example, users can begin a general discussion in the "Agents" window and later link it to a specific project. Once the workspace is set up, the session retains the conversation history, current request, and the agent can access the project files to continue working. This feature is currently only available within the Copilot environment. The update also introduces an experimental feature that lets users view GitHub tickets and pull requests directly in the "Agents" window. By clicking on a link from github.com, users can open the ticket or pull request details without switching to a browser. This works even if the related repository is not open. To use this feature, users need to install the GitHub Pull Requests extension and enable the extensions.experimental.enableAgentsWindowCapability option. Users can also attach GitHub tickets or pull requests to a conversation by adding context from the "Add context..." menu or by pasting the URL into the "New session" input field. This allows the agent to access ticket details without manual copying. VS Code is being gradually rolled out to all users. Those who want the latest version immediately can use the "Check for Updates" function within VS Code. For early access to new features, users can download the "Nightly" version of the Insiders program, which includes updates as soon as they are available.