Microsoft Expands AI Footprint with New Tools for Developers and Enterprises
"It's all about expanding opportunity for developers across every layer of the stack so that you all can build the apps, the agents that can empower every person and every organization on the planet," says Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Microsoft has announced changes across its developer platforms at its annual Build conference 2025, reflecting how AI is altering the software development lifecycle. GitHub Copilot is being restructured into an asynchronous coding agent embedded within the platform, with added features like prompt management, model evaluations and enterprise-level controls. Copilot Chat is now open-sourced in Visual Studio Code, marking a continued push toward open collaboration in AI development.
"This is the next big step forward, which is a full coding agent built right into GitHub, taking Copilot from being a pair programmer to a peer programmer. You can assign issues to Copilot, bug fixes, new features, code maintenance, and it'll complete these tasks autonomously. Today, I'm super excited that it's now available to all of you," explained Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft.
"It's all about expanding opportunity for developers across every layer of the stack so that you all can build the apps, the agents that can empower every person and every organization on the planet," said Nadella.
Windows AI Foundry, introduced at Build, is being positioned as a unified platform for managing training and inference tasks across local and cloud environments. It supports both open-source and proprietary models, and offers simplified APIs for common language and vision-based tasks.
Meanwhile, Azure AI Foundry now hosts over 1,900 AI models, including new additions such as Grok 3 and Grok 3 Mini from xAI. Tools like the Model Leaderboard and Model Router have been introduced to help developers evaluate and deploy models more effectively.
In line with the broader industry conversation around open AI infrastructure, Microsoft is expanding support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) across its platforms and has joined the MCP Steering Committee. The protocol is aimed at standardising how AI agents interact with data and services online, and new contributions include a server registry and updated authorisation mechanisms.
A new initiative called NLWeb was also introduced, which aims to allow websites to offer conversational, agent-compatible interfaces to their content. NLWeb endpoints would also function as MCP servers, offering websites the option to make their data and services accessible to AI agents under agreed protocols.
Nadella also highlighted how Teams is being transformed into a multiplayer AI environment, where agents can be summoned, assigned tasks, and embedded directly into conversations.
"I feel we are at that age where we are now gonna put expertise at your fingertips. Teams takes all that and makes it multiplayer, right? All of the agents you build can now show up in Teams and in Copilot. You can ask questions, assign action items, or kick off a workflow by just at-mentioning an agent in a chat or meeting and with the Teams AI library, building multiplayer agents is easier than ever. It now supports MCP. With just one line of code, you can even have it enable A2A. You can add things like episodic or semantic memory by using Azure Search and a new retrieval system and as a developer, you can now publish. This is the biggest thing, right? Now you can build an agent. You can publish your agent to the agent store and have them discovered and distributed across both Copilot and Teams, providing you access to the hundreds of millions of users and unlocking that opportunity," added Nadella.
Microsoft has also introduced a new research platform, Microsoft Discovery, which aims to apply agentic AI to scientific work. The tool is designed to support researchers across disciplines by streamlining discovery workflows, from data analysis to product development.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meta in talks for Scale AI investment that could top $10 billion
(Bloomberg) — Meta Platforms Inc. is in talks to make a multibillion-dollar investment into artificial intelligence startup Scale AI, according to people familiar with the matter. Next Stop: Rancho Cucamonga! Where Public Transit Systems Are Bouncing Back Around the World ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn Trump Said He Fired the National Portrait Gallery Director. She's Still There. The financing could exceed $10 billion in value, some of the people said, making it one of the largest private company funding events of all time. The terms of the deal are not finalized and could still change, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. A representative for Scale did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meta declined to comment. Scale AI, whose customers include Microsoft Corp. and OpenAI, provides data labeling services to help companies train machine-learning models and has become a key beneficiary of the generative AI boom. The startup was last valued at about $14 billion in 2024, in a funding round that included backing from Meta and Microsoft. Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Scale was in talks for a tender offer that would value it at $25 billion. This would be Meta's biggest ever external AI investment, and a rare move for the company. The social media giant has before now mostly depended on its in-house research, plus a more open development strategy, to make improvements in its AI technology. Meanwhile, Big Tech peers have invested heavily: Microsoft has put more than $13 billion into OpenAI while both Inc. and Alphabet Inc. have put billions into rival Anthropic. Part of those companies' investments have been through credits to use their computing power. Meta doesn't have a cloud business, and it's unclear what format Meta's investment will take. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has made AI Meta's top priority, and said in January that the company would spend as much as $65 billion on related projects this year. The company's push includes an effort to make Llama the industry standard worldwide. Meta's AI chatbot — already available on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — is used by 1 billion people per month. Scale, co-founded in 2016 by CEO Alexandr Wang, has been growing quickly: The startup generated revenue of $870 million last year and expects sales to more than double to $2 billion in 2025, Bloomberg previously reported. Scale plays a key role in making AI data available for companies. Because AI is only as good as the data that goes into it, Scale uses scads of contract workers to tidy up and tag images, text and other data that can then be used for AI training. Scale and Meta share an interest in defense tech. Last week, Meta announced a new partnership with defense contractor Anduril Industries Inc. to develop products for the US military, including an AI-powered helmet with virtual and augmented reality features. Meta has also granted approval for US government agencies and defense contractors to use its AI models. The company is already partnering with Scale on a program called Defense Llama — a version of Meta's Llama large language model intended for military use. Scale has increasingly been working with the US government to develop AI for defense purposes. Earlier this year the startup said it won a contract with the Defense Department to work on AI agent technology. The company called the contract 'a significant milestone in military advancement.' Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again The SEC Pinned Its Hack on a Few Hapless Day Traders. The Full Story Is Far More Troubling Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? What Does Musk-Trump Split Mean for a 'Big, Beautiful Bill'? Cuts to US Aid Imperil the World's Largest HIV Treatment Program ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
SkyCrest Capital Announces Completion of SAX-iCore Upgrade for AI Trading System SkyAlpha X, Secures $150 Million in Institutional Orders
Denver, UT, June 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyCrest Capital officially announced today that its core AI trading system, SkyAlpha X, has successfully completed a comprehensive upgrade to its third-generation architecture, launching the institutional-grade version SAX-iCore (SkyAlpha X Institutional Core). This upgrade marks SkyAlpha X's entry into a new era that balances high-frequency trading, cross-market arbitrage, and structured asset management, quickly drawing significant attention from international markets. According to SkyCrest Capital's technical and business teams, SAX-iCore has so far secured procurement intentions and signed orders from global hedge funds, quantitative institutions, and crypto-financial platforms, totaling $150 million. These include: • A cross-asset hedge fund based in New York managing over $4.5 billion in assets, which has formally signed an integration agreement to deploy SAX-iCore for strategy automation in the U.S. equities and ETF options markets. • A digital asset market maker in Singapore, which has embedded SAX-iCore as the core execution module in its DEX liquidity engine, mainly for perpetual contract arbitrage and volatility trading. • An asset management firm in London that has signed a cooperation agreement for the AI-driven options volatility detection module, planning to integrate SAX-iCore into its global macro hedge strategies. Key highlights of the upgrade include: • Structured Volatility Engine (SVE): Detects breakout windows hidden within intraday price behavior, adaptable to index futures, tech stocks, and cryptocurrencies. • Cross-Market Signal Coordination System: Enables strategic integration across U.S. equities, crypto, and options markets for trend capture, volatility arbitrage, and macro alerts. • Smart Capital Flow Radar (SCF-Radar): Tracks institutional build-up and withdrawal paths to construct real-time capital behavior maps, enhancing trend confirmation efficiency. • Options Anomaly Volatility Alert Module: Combines implied volatility shifts with Gamma risk identification to significantly improve strategic responsiveness and defense ahead of market events. Dr. Ross, Founder and Chief Science Officer of SkyCrest Capital, stated: 'SAX-iCore is not a mere upgrade of a traditional trading system, but a deep response to the increasingly interconnected multi-market environment. We've made breakthroughs not only at the algorithmic level but also ensured the system evolves in sync with real-world trading structures-this enables us to provide institutional investors with faster, more penetrative strategic decision engines amid globally intensifying asset volatility.' Since its initial launch in 2021, SkyAlpha X has delivered structured trading insights for stocks, futures, options, and crypto assets to SkyCrest's strategy teams and institutional partners. As the flagship module of the platform's 3.0 phase, SAX-iCore will serve as the core infrastructure for high-frequency trading, global asset allocation, and AI-driven execution system integration. SkyCrest Capital is currently offering early access to SAX-iCore for select strategic partners and is opening a whitelist application process for high-net-worth clients to access strategic modules. Retail-focused modules and tiered signal services for high-frequency trading are planned for phased rollout. For further information, please contact: Media Contact SkyCrest Capital PR Department Website: Contact: Audrey Sinclair Email: [email protected] Audrey Sinclair SkyCrest Capital service at
Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
Outsmarting AI: 4 Ways To Future-Proof Your Threatened Career
According to Gallup, 22% of U.S. workers are worried they will lose their jobs to generative AI—a seven percent increase since 2021. Companies are moving faster than expected to replace workers with AI. Recently, Microsoft cut three percent of its staff, and Duolingo said it would reduce contractors as AI takes over their tasks. The digital consultancy firm Customertimes reports that Google searches for 'Will AI take my job' have risen by +108% after the latest layoffs. And 18.4 million TikTok videos criticize Duolingo's 'AI-first' strategy, calling for a strike. It's time to consider steps to take for outsmarting AI in the age of the machine. Atalia Horenshtien, head of AI practice at Customertimes, is leading the introduction of AI-workers in many global companies. She told me by email that if you've been laid off in an AI restructure, don't blame yourself for a company's failure to evolve responsibly. Instead, she advises that you take inventory by asking 'What broke without you? What decisions relied on your judgment?' She points out that that's your edge: context, nuance and expertise AI still can't replicate. 'In this new era, proving your value means showcasing the human skills machines can't mimic,' Horenshtien explains. "And while companies chase automation, they'd do well to remember: AI doesn't build culture, loyalty or trust. People do.' If you're concerned about losing your job in the age of AI, here are four tips Horenshtien, shared with me on how you can future-proof your career and compete against the algorithms. She reminds you that AI isn't here to compete with your work ethic. 'It's here to automate what can be automated and amplify what you do best,' she says. 'Tools like generative AI aren't just time-savers, they unlock skills many never had before. Writers write faster, non-writers become content creators and everyday professionals suddenly have design, research or strategy capabilities at their fingertips. The most valuable professionals won't be the ones who resist AI--they'll be the ones who know how to partner with it to level up.' AI will likely replace tasks, not whole jobs, especially those rooted in repetition, according to Horenshtien. 'What it still can't replicate well: original thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment and complex decision-making. If your role leans heavily on these, double down. If not, it's time to pivot.' She states that prompt engineering, model selection and workflow design are fast becoming core skills. 'You don't need to become a data scientist, but you do need to know how to make AI tools useful. The ability to bridge the gap between tech and business outcomes is what will set people apart.' Horenshtien suggests that the worst move is to stay still. "If your role includes repetitive tasks, assume they're next in line for automation. Upskilling now, whether in AI tools, business strategy or adjacent fields, puts you ahead of the curve and out of the risk zone when change hits. Before leaders can help employees with the fears of AI taking their jobs, they must first understand the quandary themselves and have clear and factual explanations to the question on everyone's mind, 'Is AI a tool or a threat?' Horenshtien asserts that business leaders have a responsibility to take action for their employees, telling me that they can take at least five steps. Horenshtien explains that if you're like most people, you know change is coming. She believes the worst thing you can do as a leader is to go silent. 'Uncertainty breeds fear, and fear drives talent out the door. 'Be clear about what AI means for your business, how it will affect roles and what support you'll offer. When people understand the plan, they're far more likely to stay, adapt and contribute to the shift." She admits that letting people go may seem efficient, but cautions you that it's short-sighted. She recommends, instead, that your better move is to invest in internal mobility. 'Map out which roles are at risk and which are growing,"she suggests. "Offer real pathways to reskill toward AI-enhanced positions, and make that part of a clear workforce transition strategy, not an afterthought'. 'AI is part of your future, it needs to be part of your onboarding,'she advises. 'Don't just roll out tools—equip people to understand and use them effectively. Introduce AI basics, tool-specific training, and real examples during onboarding so employees build confidence early. When teams know how and why AI fits into their day-to-day, adoption becomes a mindset, not a mandate." She points out that AI frees up time and recommends that you use it wisely. 'Encourage employees to test new tools, automate the boring stuff and rethink their workflows. When people are given the mandate to innovate, many will discover value the business didn't know it needed.' 'AI adoption is a change management challenge as much as a technical one,' she explains, adding the importance of preparing teams for shifts in roles, responsibilities and expectations. 'Give managers the training and support they need to lead through change, not just push new tools.' I spoke with Alari Aho, career expert and CEO of Toggl Hire, who suggests the first step to bounce back from an AI threat is to remember that layoffs are the beginning, not the end. If you're faced with a sudden job layoff, Aho suggests it could be a gift in disguise, calling layoffs a rebranding moment. 'It's a chance to take control of your story, redefine your professional identity and show the market what you're truly made of.' He suggests that you start by owning the narrative—frame the layoff as a business decision, not a personal failure. Then sharpen your value through a thoughtful rebrand, reconnect with your network with purpose and use any downtime to upskill in ways that align with where you want to go next. If you're a full-time employee and are replaced by AI, business leaders declare that one of the best ways of outsmarting AI in 2025 is to build gig jobs as a safety net, not only as extra income to make ends meet but as career insurance in case your job disappears or you're faced with layoffs. Studies show that many laid-off workers end up in side hustles with more autonomy, making higher salaries than in their previous positions that rival full-time wages.
