Add a configurable delay before autopilot skips clarification questions

[ranjith7022]

Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

When using Copilot CLI in autopilot mode, clarification questions are skipped immediately. There is no opportunity to respond, even when I’m actively watching the session. I want autonomous execution, but I’d still like a brief chance to provide input when Copilot asks a question.

Proposed solution

Add a configurable grace period, such as 5–10 seconds, before automatically skipping clarification questions.

• Display a countdown with options to answer or skip immediately.
• Pause the countdown when the user starts interacting with the question.
• If there’s no interaction before the timeout, continue with the existing autopilot behavior.
• Allow a delay of  0  to preserve immediate skipping for fully unattended workflows.

This would let users provide timely input while keeping autopilot hands-off when they’re away.

Example prompts or workflows

1. Ambiguous bug report: “The app has been slow recently.” If Copilot asks whether I mean startup, navigation, or API responses, give me a few seconds to select one.
2. Implementation choice: “Add caching to this service.” If Copilot asks about the caching approach, let me answer before it proceeds autonomously.
3. Scope clarification: “Refactor the authentication module.” If Copilot asks whether public interfaces must remain unchanged, allow a brief response window.
4. Unattended execution: Start a task and step away. Any unanswered clarification questions time out automatically, so work can continue without waiting indefinitely.

Additional context

Observed on Copilot CLI 1.0.86 on Windows, with autopilot enabled. A clarification question was immediately skipped and returned to the assistant as “The user is not available to respond and will review your work later.”

This request concerns clarification questions, not tool-permission or security-approval prompts.