SEATTLE (Reuters) -Microsoft ( MSFT ) said it will add an artificial intelligence coding agent from Google-backed startup Anthropic to its GitHub service.

Coding agents can carry out software development tasks, such as fixing bugs, on a human developer's behalf. Microsoft ( MSFT ) on Monday introduced its own coding agent to GitHub, a Microsoft ( MSFT )-owned service that many software companies use to manage their code bases.

Executive Vice President Jay Parikh said at Microsoft's ( MSFT ) annual software developer conference on Tuesday that the company will also offer Anthropic's coding agent in GitHub.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) said earlier this week that it will also offer a coding agent from OpenAI, underscoring Microsoft's ( MSFT ) transition to a more neutral stance in the AI race.