Key Points:
- Microsoft has announced the public preview of native support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) on Windows, a standardized framework for AI agents to connect with apps and tools.
- The company has introduced new features, including Windows On-Device Registry (ODR) and built-in agent connectors for File Explorer and System Settings, to enhance the development of AI-powered experiences on Windows.
- Microsoft has also announced the private preview of Agent Workspace, a contained and policy-controlled environment where agents can interact with software and complete tasks for users.
Microsoft has made significant announcements regarding the evolution of Windows as a secure open platform for AI and agents. The company has introduced several new features and updates to support the development of AI-powered experiences on Windows. At the forefront of these updates is the public preview of native support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) on Windows. MCP is an open standard that enables AI agents to connect with external tools, data sources, and services, and its integration with Windows is expected to accelerate innovation and provide a foundation for richer, more capable agentic workflows.
The public preview of MCP on Windows allows developers to build MCP servers to expose their app’s functionality as agent connectors and register them in the Windows on-device registry. This enables agents to discover and connect to these tools and other agents via a secure and manageable repository. Microsoft has also introduced built-in agent connectors for File Explorer and System Settings, which can be used by agents to manage and organize local files, adjust system settings, and perform other tasks with user consent.
In addition to these updates, Microsoft has announced the private preview of Agent Workspace, a contained and policy-controlled environment where agents can interact with software and complete tasks for users. This feature is designed to provide a secure and auditable environment for agents to operate in, without disrupting the user’s primary session. The company has also introduced Agent ID, a unique ID that distinguishes agent interactions from user actions, making it easier for IT professionals to audit and track agent activity.
Microsoft has also emphasized its commitment to security, with a focus on providing a secure by default experience for developers and users. The company has introduced secure by default policies for agent connectors and security controls for end-users, including experimental agentic feature toggles, mandatory user consent, and a dedicated settings page to manage agent connectors. IT admins can also manage basic policies for their enterprise employees to access and use agentic experiences through typical policy configuration channels.
The company has also announced new AI APIs, including video super resolution (VSR) and Stable Diffusion XL (SDXL), which are now available in public preview. These APIs are designed to enable developers to build AI-powered experiences on Windows, with a focus on on-device AI and machine learning models. Microsoft Foundry on Windows, a unified and reliable AI platform, provides developers with the tools to build AI experiences on-device, whether they choose to use AI APIs powered by inbox models or access a rich catalog of pre-optimized open-source models.
Many partners are already leveraging Microsoft Foundry on Windows to deliver innovative, secure, and high-performance AI experiences locally on Windows. For example, Roboflow is using Windows ML to deploy the RF-DETR model for state-of-the-art detection and instance segmentation on the edge, while Infosys is integrating Windows ML with Infosys Agentic Foundry to transform a cloud-based invoice classification agentic AI system.
As Microsoft continues to build a more robust and secure Windows platform for developers, the company is empowering developers to unlock the full potential of next-gen computing. With Windows as the foundation, developers can explore, build, and help shape the future of Windows, and Microsoft is committed to supporting this journey with ongoing updates and innovations.
Read the rest: Source Link
You might also like: Try AutoCAD 2026 for Windows, best free FTP Clients on Windows & browse the best Surface Laptops to buy.
Remember to like our facebook and our twitter @WindowsMode for a chance to win a free Surface every month.
Discover more from Windows Mode
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
