Note (posted in error): This discussion was created via the API instead of the community discussion template, so it was auto-closed. It is intentionally left as-is rather than re-submitted. No action is needed from maintainers — please disregard this thread. The same report is being submitted through the proper template.

Environment

• GitHub Copilot app 1.0.102-0.unstable.r40949665530.gab1eef5 (Windows)
• Session mode: Autopilot
• Chat type: general chat session, no repository task, no project worktree

Summary
In Autopilot mode the runtime repeatedly injects a system turn reading
"You have not yet marked the task as complete using the task_complete tool..."
into sessions that have no task at all. The reminder does not distinguish a
completed task from ordinary conversation, so it appears after plain greetings
and small talk, and keeps repeating until task_complete is called.

Impact
The reminder pressures the agent to find work where none was requested. In one
session it caused the agent to autonomously pick a backlog card from a
task-board MCP server, move it to IN_PROGRESS, and spawn a coding session in a
worktree — none of which the user asked for.

Steps to reproduce

1. Open a general chat session (no project, no kickoff task).
2. Enable Autopilot mode.
3. Send a purely conversational message, e.g. "hi".
4. Let the turn end without any tool call that marks a task complete.
5. Observe the injected turn, and observe it repeat on every subsequent turn.

Expected
Autopilot should only require task completion when a task exists — a kickoff
prompt, a plan, or an explicitly tracked todo list. Conversational turns should
end cleanly with no reminder.

Actual
The reminder is injected unconditionally and indefinitely, with no way to
satisfy it in a chat that has no task. The only exits are calling
task_complete for a no-op task or leaving Autopilot mode.

Suggested fix

• Gate the reminder on the existence of an active task / plan / todo set.
• Once the user explicitly says there is no task, stop injecting it for that session.
• Consider capping repetitions.

Workaround
Leave Autopilot mode for conversational chats, or call task_complete with a
no-op summary to silence it.