What to Expect at Microsoft Build 2025 and How to Watch
AI agents, Copilot upgrades, and a smarter Windows experience could steal the show.
Last year, Microsoft used Build to cement Copilot’s place across Windows, Office, and the cloud. This year, it might double down, pushing Copilot to see more, do more, and ultimately be more. And it’s not just about chat windows anymore. Microsoft is betting big on AI agents that can actually act on your behalf.
Build 2025 kicks off on May 19 at the Seattle Convention Center, with keynotes from CEO Satya Nadella and CTO Kevin Scott. The four-day conference runs through May 22 and will be streamed live for free, giving developers and fans a front-row seat to what’s next for Windows, Azure, GitHub, and more.
Techloy
Here's everything we expect to see at Microsoft Build 2025 and how you can watch.
What to expect from Microsoft Build 2025
/1. Copilot might be getting eyes and agency
This year’s Build is all about turning Copilot from a helpful voice into a digital assistant that sees your screen, tweaks your settings, and even runs tasks for you.
Expect a big spotlight on Copilot Vision, which gives the AI a kind of screen awareness as it can now read what’s on your desktop and interact with apps, much like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It’s already being tested on mobile, and Microsoft is expected to confirm a broader desktop rollout timeline at Build 2025.
We’ll also likely hear more about Copilot’s “agentic” capabilities, like an AI agent in the Windows Settings app that can auto-adjust system preferences. Microsoft may even announce a full AI agent SDK, allowing developers to build their automations on top of Copilot.
And with Microsoft reportedly testing alternatives to OpenAI’s tech—like models from xAI, Meta, and Anthropic, there’s speculation that the company’s in-house Microsoft Artificial Intelligence (MAI) models could be formally introduced, potentially through a new Copilot API.
/2. A smarter Windows 11 experience
Beyond AI agents, Windows 11 itself may be getting smarter. File Explorer and the Start menu are expected to gain Copilot-driven upgrades, like finding files or installing apps without ever opening another window.
More AI integrations might also be coming to stock apps like Paint, Snipping Tool, Photos, and even Notepad, as part of Microsoft’s broader mission to infuse everyday tasks with intelligent assistance.
/3. A Smarter and Faster Research with Copilot
One of the more practical AI additions Microsoft is showcasing this year is Researcher, a new Copilot-powered tool introduced in March 2025. Built on OpenAI’s o3 reasoning model, Researcher helps users pull together insights from OneDrive and the web. For now, it’s exclusive to Microsoft 365 subscribers, but there’s growing curiosity around whether it’ll open up to more users.
Microsoft is also hinting at future developer access through APIs, which could turn Researcher into a flexible platform for custom research workflows. However, questions about accuracy, source verification, and bias in AI-generated research remain, and how Microsoft addresses these concerns at Build could shape the tool’s credibility going forward.
/4. Azure's journey beyond the Cloud
We’re expecting improved Azure OpenAI integration, deployment templates for AI agents, and scalable compute tailored for intensive workloads.
If past events are any indication, Microsoft will also highlight real-world use cases in healthcare, finance, and retail industries where low-latency, regulation-friendly cloud setups are crucial.
/5. .NET and GitHub Smarter Development Workflow
Build isn’t Build without some love for developers, and in 2025, the focus is all about working smarter with AI-infused tooling.
.NET will likely continue to evolve, bringing improved cross-platform support and performance tuning for AI-heavy applications. Expect tighter integration with ML libraries and a push toward agent-based development that simplifies complex workflows.
Meanwhile, GitHub might get a boost through deeper Copilot integration. Think beyond autocomplete: Build previews have shown off features like natural language commit summaries, AI-assisted pull request reviews, and smart suggestions across your repo. It's GitHub becoming more of a co-developer than just a code host.
/6. Surface hardware rumors
While Build isn’t typically a hardware event, Microsoft has launched new hardware around the same time in the past, like last year’s Copilot+ PCs and Snapdragon-powered laptops. This year, rumors suggest a smaller Surface Pro or Surface Laptop may be on deck, though the company hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
If anything drops, expect it to highlight how Copilot performs natively on ARM-based devices. We're also expecting a possible reveal of the Maia 2 chip, a follow-up to Microsoft’s first in-house AI accelerator for Azure.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
How to watch Build 2025
Microsoft Build 2025 kicks off on May 19, 2025, and runs through May 22 at the Seattle Convention Center. You can catch it all live on the Microsoft Developer YouTube channel or the official Microsoft Build 2025 website.
The main keynote streams on Monday, May 19, starting at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. UK, 9:30 p.m. IST). Just head to the Build site to register for free, or watch directly on YouTube. Replays will be available on both platforms after the event.
Conclusion
With Microsoft Build 2025 laying the next phase of AI, it’s hard not to think about how it all started with Copilot being a helpful voice across Windows, Office, and the cloud.
But now, with features like Copilot Vision and smarter Windows 11 integrations, Microsoft’s AI might be moving from a tool you talk to, to one that anticipates your needs and gets things done. If Microsoft pulls this off, it could be a game-changer.
