Introduction

Microsoft Build 2025 marked a pivotal moment in technology, spotlighting the transition from AI as a simple assistant to AI with full agency, capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution. The conference revealed Microsoft's ambitions to foster what it calls the "Agentic Web," a complex ecosystem where AI agents operate collaboratively across platforms using open, standardized protocols.

Context and Background

Microsoft's vision for the agentic web is a natural evolution in its ongoing AI strategy, threading together advances in AI agents, developer tooling, and interoperability standards. Building on the success of products like GitHub Copilot and the integration of AI across Windows 11, Microsoft aims to empower developers and enterprises with tools and frameworks that enable intelligent agents to act on behalf of users in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Leading the charge are protocols like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and NLWeb, which Microsoft positions as foundational building blocks. MCP standardizes how AI models access contextual data and external tools, promoting seamless agent interoperability between Microsoft and third-party platforms. NLWeb, analogized as "HTML for the agentic web," enables natural language interaction with web data, facilitating smarter AI interactions on the open web.

The Azure AI Foundry further supports this ecosystem, offering developers a rich suite of 1,800+ AI models and an environment optimized for building, tuning, and deploying AI agents tailored for specific business and personal workflows.

Technical Details

  • Model Context Protocol (MCP): Developed with Anthropic, MCP is a cross-platform standard that enables AI models to securely access various APIs, databases, and enterprise data sources, ensuring agents can reason with pertinent context and take appropriate actions.
  • NLWeb Protocol: An open-source web language protocol that transforms web content interaction, allowing AI agents to understand and manipulate information on websites via natural language queries and commands.
  • Azure AI Foundry: A cloud platform enhanced with tools for agent creation, management, and personalization, integrating tightly with Microsoft 365 Copilot and business applications.
  • Developer Tools Enhancements: Including expanded GitHub Copilot integrations, Visual Studio updates for AI-assisted debugging, and frameworks for secure deployment of AI-generated code.

Implications and Impact

Empowering Developers and Enterprises

Microsoft's ecosystem reformulates the developer experience by combining low-code/no-code tools with advanced AI SDKs and open protocols, enabling rapid creation of intelligent agents that fit organizational needs. This fostered collaboration across sectors, from healthcare to education, and boosted automation and productivity.

Enhanced User Experience Across Platforms

For users, the agentic web promises proactive, personalized, and context-aware AI agents capable of automating routine tasks, anticipating needs, and collaborating effortlessly, effectively turning AI from a passive tool to an active digital partner.

Emphasis on Security and Ethics

The conference underscored Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI development, with strategies focusing on transparency, privacy-by-design, and enterprise-grade security frameworks to prevent misuse of AI agents and protect sensitive data.

Industry Leadership and Collaboration

By advocating open standards like MCP and NLWeb and deepening partnerships with OpenAI and others, Microsoft is positioning itself as a cornerstone for the future AI ecosystem, encouraging interoperability and innovation at scale.

Conclusion

Microsoft Build 2025 showcased a transformative vision whereby AI agents become active participants in the web and enterprise environments, enabled by open protocols, powerful AI platforms like Azure AI Foundry, and robust developer tools. This agentic web ushers in a new era where AI not only assists but acts autonomously, reshaping productivity, collaboration, and the digital landscape.