Microsoft set to showcase new AI advancements and Windows enhancements at Build event.

Microsoft is gearing up for its Build conference in San Francisco this week, aiming to re-engage developers during a crucial time. Having attended Build since its days as the Professional Developers Conference, I can confidently say this is a significant moment for the company. With Microsoft reshaping its entire business around AI, the event is moving to a more intimate venue. Trust in Windows and GitHub has waned, making this an essential opportunity for Microsoft to reconnect with developers and share its vision for the future.

Insider sources indicate that we can expect announcements regarding new AI models in Windows, a fresh reasoning model from Microsoft AI, and a Copilot “super app.” More importantly for attendees, Microsoft is set to reveal enhancements aimed at improving the Windows experience for developers. A new developer-optimized version of Windows 11 is on the horizon, featuring a distraction-free environment complete with pre-installed apps, tools, and scripts that developers have been requesting.

Additionally, we should hear updates on Microsoft’s efforts to refine Windows 11 for better performance and user experience. Earlier this year, Microsoft laid out its strategy to enhance Windows 11, and we’ve already seen some early improvements. The Windows Insider team is preparing to showcase more customization options later today, just ahead of the Build keynote tomorrow.

Expect more news on how Windows is adapting to new hardware like Nvidia’s RTX Spark. This year, there will be a stronger emphasis on local models running on Windows, enabling developers to leverage local computing power rather than relying on expensive cloud solutions. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri hinted last week that “something new is coming for developers” at Build, so we might learn more about the next generation of Microsoft’s compact AI models. Notably, miniature RTX Spark PCs from Microsoft and HP were missing from the lineup during Nvidia’s Computex keynote, suggesting something exciting could be in the works.

During his keynote, Satya Nadella will discuss the new RTX Spark announcement alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. We can also anticipate updates from Qualcomm regarding its ongoing collaboration with Microsoft to enhance Windows on Arm. Qualcomm and Microsoft have laid the groundwork for Arm improvements in Windows 11, allowing Nvidia to re-enter the Windows on Arm space after initial challenges with the Surface RT. Microsoft now faces the task of balancing two major Arm silicon providers, similar to its long-standing relationship with both AMD and Intel.

We’re also set to hear about Microsoft’s latest in-house models at Build. Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman is expected to unveil the MAI-Thinking-1 model, the company’s first reasoning model. Unlike previous models, this one hasn’t been trained through distillation, meaning it wasn’t developed by learning from another AI’s outputs. This reasoning model is likely aimed primarily at enterprise applications.

In addition to the reasoning model, I anticipate hearing about other new models, including MAI-Image-2.5 and MAI-Image-2.5-Flash. Suleyman teased the MAI-Image-2.5 release last week, promising more details at Build.

Microsoft will also discuss its upcoming Copilot “super app,” which aims to unify its various Copilot AI assistants into a single interface. While work is underway, the leaked screenshot that surfaced recently is merely a mockup for Build demonstrations.

The image also offers a glimpse of Microsoft Scout, a new AI agent based on Microsoft’s OpenClaw project. However, the Copilot super app won’t be available at Build, as it’s still in development, so a preview likely won’t arrive until late summer.

I’m also eager to hear about improvements to GitHub during Build. Recent reports highlighted GitHub’s struggles within Microsoft, following a series of departures, outages, and security issues. Microsoft needs to regain trust in GitHub, especially as prominent developers raise concerns. There’s no quick fix, but with the GitHub team driving some of the Build initiatives, Microsoft must address these challenges.

Stay tuned for all the updates from Microsoft Build this week, as the conference kicks off at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET on Tuesday, June 2nd.