‘What a joke’: Github Copilot’s new token-based billing spurs consternation among devs

Microsoft's shift to token-based billing for GitHub Copilot signals rising infrastructure costs and a maturing market. For the 2026 AI economy, this move shows monetization pressure on developer tools. Expect tighter vendor margins, increased competition from open-source alternatives, and a recalibration of enterprise AI budgets—forcing firms to optimize token efficiency or seek cheaper models.