diff --git a/src/specify_cli/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
index f5e117beef..25ec76508d 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/__init__.py
@@ -1164,6 +1164,9 @@ def init(
             console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] Invalid AI assistant '{ai_assistant}'. Choose from: {', '.join(AGENT_CONFIG.keys())}")
             raise typer.Exit(1)
         selected_ai = ai_assistant
+    elif not sys.stdin.isatty():
+        console.print("[dim]Non-interactive session detected: defaulting to 'copilot'. Use --integration to choose a different agent.[/dim]")
+        selected_ai = "copilot"
     else:
         # Create options dict for selection (agent_key: display_name)
         ai_choices = {key: config["name"] for key, config in AGENT_CONFIG.items()}
diff --git a/tests/integrations/test_cli.py b/tests/integrations/test_cli.py
index 60e51a5fb9..9faa0b29c2 100644
--- a/tests/integrations/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/integrations/test_cli.py
@@ -73,6 +73,28 @@ def test_integration_copilot_creates_files(self, tmp_path):
         shared_manifest = project / ".specify" / "integrations" / "speckit.manifest.json"
         assert shared_manifest.exists()
 
+    def test_noninteractive_init_defaults_to_copilot(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+        import specify_cli
+
+        def fail_select(*_args, **_kwargs):
+            raise AssertionError("non-interactive init should not open the integration picker")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(specify_cli, "select_with_arrows", fail_select)
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        project = tmp_path / "noninteractive"
+        result = runner.invoke(app, [
+            "init", str(project), "--script", "sh", "--no-git", "--ignore-agent-tools",
+        ], catch_exceptions=False)
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+        assert (project / ".github" / "agents" / "speckit.plan.agent.md").exists()
+
+        data = json.loads((project / ".specify" / "integration.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        assert data["integration"] == "copilot"
+
     def test_ai_copilot_auto_promotes(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app