Microsoft’s annual Build conference kicked off with a bold declaration for the future of artificial intelligence: “Agentic computing is here.” In a milestone keynote on Tuesday, CEO Satya Nadella announced a suite of new agent-based AI tools and services desired at reshaping how developers, designers, and creators build and interact with technology.
Titled the “agentic shift,” this new direction sets intelligent agencies, autonomous digital assistants capable of reasoning, planning, and executing complex tasks, at the heart of Microsoft’s ecosystem. From enterprise automation to software development and creative workflows, the tech giant is betting big on AI that not only assists but takes initiative.
Introducing Agent Framework in Azure
At the core of the announcement is the Agent Framework for Azure, a robust toolkit enabling developers to create AI agents that go beyond responding to prompts. These agents can now set goals, query data, chain tools, and learn from user preferences, all while integrating smoothly with Microsoft’s existing cloud infrastructure.
Microsoft has already implemented these agentic capabilities into Azure OpenAI Service, allowing enterprises to build custom AI agents with access to company knowledge bases, APIs, and dynamic tools, all governed under enterprise-grade security.
Copilot+, Reimagined with Autonomy
Another major highlight was the evolution of the Copilot brand into Copilot+, a more autonomous, multi-step problem-solving assistant now integrated across Windows, Office 365, GitHub, and Teams. Copilot+ agents can take on tasks like summarizing project timelines, booking travel within corporate policy, or even managing multi-platform social media campaigns, all with minimal user input.
Developers using GitHub Copilot Enterprise will benefit from agents that can now manage entire feature rollouts, debug issues based on telemetry, and even draft documentation based on code changes.
Microsoft also revealed Copilot Studio for Creators, an AI-powered suite designed for designers, video editors, and marketers. Creators can now launch agents trained on their style, preferred tools, and historical content, generating drafts, animations, and even social media posts autonomously.
The integration with Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and DaVinci Resolve received a wave of cheering, showcasing agents that can mock up UI wireframes or suggest brand-consistent typography without starting.
Agentic UX in Windows 12
As part of the Windows 12 preview, Microsoft demonstrated a completely reimagined interface powered by live AI agents. These agents proactively manage desktop environments, adjust performance settings based on workload, and even suggest calendar changes based on weather or traffic conditions.
As agents take on more responsibility, Microsoft stressed its commitment to AI safety and transparency. Every agent will feature a visible “action history” and user override options. New compliance tools will help businesses audit decisions made by autonomous systems, ensuring accountability and ethical AI deployment.
Microsoft’s agentic leap at Build 2025 sets a strong tone for the future of software. While some industry observers remain careful about the autonomy of these systems, the excitement among developers is palpable.
Microsoft is progressing the role of AI from a passive assistant to an active digital collaborator, reimagining how we build, create, and connect with technology. Developers can focus on logic over syntax, designers can take bolder leaps, and everyday users can engage with systems in a more fluid, human way. With this agent-led direction, Microsoft isn’t just part of the AI conversation, it’s helping to write the next chapter.
