Exclude merge requests from automatic code reviews (Beta)

In previous versions of GitLab, when automatic reviews were turned on for a project or group, GitLab Duo reviewed every eligible merge request. This included bot-authored dependency updates, feature branches, and experimental work, not just changes the team actually wanted feedback on.

You can now exclude specific merge requests from automatic reviews using exclusion rules. Define a .gitlab/duo/mr-review-automated-rules.yaml file for a project or group, with exclusion rules based on the author, source branch, or target branch. Rules support glob patterns like dependabot/* or *-bot.

You can still request a review manually for any excluded merge request.

This feature is in beta and is gated behind the duo_code_review_automated_rules feature flag, enabled by default.