New Windows AI Foundry Unveiled on Empowering with AI Tools

Microsoft’s latest Build conference showcased a wave of new Windows features designed to supercharge AI development—from a unified AI platform to fine-tuning capabilities and security enhancements—all focused on making Windows the ultimate AI dev box.

Empowering AI Development on Windows

At the heart of the announcements is Windows AI Foundry, the evolution of Windows Copilot Runtime. This all-in-one toolkit helps developers:

• Select & Deploy Models: Browse integrated catalogs like Foundry Local, Ollama, and NVIDIA NIMs for ready-to-use, optimized models across CPU, GPU, and NPU.
• Optimize & Infer: Leverage Windows ML, the built-in inference runtime tuned for partners (AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm) to ship high-performance AI apps without extra packaging.
• Use Built-In AI APIs: Instantly add text summarization, image description, OCR, custom prompts, object erasure, semantic search, and retrieval-augmented generation—all running locally for privacy and speed.

Key Platform Enhancements

Microsoft rolled out several other major features to streamline AI workflows and app distribution:

• LoRA for Phi Silica: Fine-tune the in-box large model efficiently with custom data on Snapdragon X Series NPUs (and coming soon to Intel/AMD PCs).
• Model Context Protocol (MCP): A standardized framework enabling AI agents to connect natively with Windows apps, kick-starting an “agentic” ecosystem.
• App Actions on Windows: Build custom entry points into your app’s features to boost discoverability and user engagement.
• Open-Source WSL: Developers can now contribute to and customize the Windows Subsystem for Linux for tighter integration and faster innovation.

Beyond AI: Security and Productivity

Security and productivity also got a boost with:

• VBS Enclave SDK & Post-Quantum Cryptography: New Windows security tools to safeguard AI workloads and future-proof cryptography.
• Developer Tool Updates: Terminal, WinGet, and PowerToys improvements make coding and package management smoother than ever.
• Microsoft Store Growth Features: Free developer registration, Win32 Web Installer, analytics reports, and App Campaigns to drive user acquisition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is Windows AI Foundry?
Windows AI Foundry is a unified AI development platform that integrates model catalogs, inference runtimes (Windows ML), built-in AI APIs, and fine-tuning tools (LoRA) to support every stage of the AI lifecycle on Windows.

Q2: How can I start using the new AI tools?
Install Foundry Local via WinGet, explore models with the Foundry Local CLI or SDK, and leverage AI APIs in the latest Windows App SDK. LoRA for Phi Silica is available in public preview on Snapdragon X Series NPUs.

Q3: What other Build 2025 updates should developers know?
Keep an eye on the MCP private preview for agent integration, contribute to open-source WSL, and take advantage of new security features (VBS Enclave SDK, PQC) and Store growth tools to maximize your app’s reach.

Sources Windows