JetBrains has rolled out a significant update for its AI Assistant, enriching the integrated development environment (IDE) experience with powerful new capabilities and greater accessibility. This refresh aims to streamline workflows and boost developer productivity by integrating artificial intelligence more deeply and intuitively into the coding process. The enhancements span functionality, model support, and user access, reflecting a commitment to leveraging AI for more efficient software development. The updated AI Assistant boasts several functional improvements designed to make coding smarter and faster. Code completion is now more intelligent, providing suggestions that are increasingly accurate and contextually relevant to the specific project being worked on. Furthermore, the assistant features enhanced context awareness, utilizing advanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques. This allows it to better understand the entire project scope, including recently accessed files, methods, and classes, leading to more pertinent interactions and suggestions. Users also gain finer control, with the ability to add or remove specific attachments sent as context to the AI. A particularly noteworthy addition is the new edit mode. This feature empowers developers to perform complex, multi-file edits directly from the chat interface. Tasks such as applying intricate changes across several documents, refactoring codebases, or streamlining maintenance can now be handled more seamlessly, all while the developer retains full control over the modifications applied to their project. This represents a significant step towards using AI for more substantial coding tasks beyond simple generation or completion. Expanding its versatility, the AI Assistant now supports a broader range of large language models (LLMs). Developers can leverage newer, powerful cloud-based models, including:OpenAI's GPT-4.1 (coming soon)Anthropic's Claude 3.7 SonnetGoogle's Gemini 2.5 ProThis expanded selection offers greater flexibility, allowing users to choose the model best suited for their specific needs. Importantly, the update also solidifies support for running local LLMs, providing an option for developers who prioritize privacy, offline access, or customization. Perhaps one of the most impactful changes is the restructuring of the subscription model, designed to make AI features accessible to everyone. Starting with the 2025.1 IDE versions, JetBrains is including a free AI tier with all licenses. This free tier offers substantial value, including unlimited code completion and support for local models, along with quota-based access to features powered by third-party cloud LLMs. For users needing more extensive capabilities, the AI Assistant and the Junie coding agent are now bundled under a single subscription, available in tiered options (Free, Pro, Ultimate), simplifying access and scalability. These comprehensive updates collectively position the JetBrains AI Assistant as a more integral and powerful tool within the developer's arsenal. By integrating cutting-edge LLMs, refining user interaction through features like the new edit mode and enhanced context awareness, and introducing a more accessible free tier, JetBrains is significantly lowering the barrier to entry for AI-powered development. This evolution underscores the growing role of AI in optimizing coding workflows and enhancing productivity across the software development lifecycle.
