Microsoft Build 2025 Recap: Top AI, Data, and Developer Highlights

Welcome back to Tech Brewed, the podcast where we dive deep into the latest tech trends and innovations shaping our world. In this episode, host Greg Doig unravels all the highlights from Microsoft Build 2025—a powerhouse event packed with groundbreaking announcements, hands-on experiences, and a clear message: AI is no longer the future, it's the now. From major upgrades to Azure AI Foundry and the introduction of intelligent coding agents in GitHub Copilot, to new data tools like SQL Server 2025, Microsoft is weaving artificial intelligence into every layer of its ecosystem. Grab your favorite drink and settle in as we explore how these advancements are empowering developers, enhancing data platforms, and redefining what’s possible in technology. Whether you’re coding your first app or managing enterprise data, this episode is your essential guide to what’s next from Microsoft Build 2025.

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Transcript

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Welcome to techbrood. With your host Greg Doig, we dive deep into the latest tech trends, innovations and conversations that matter. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, industry professional, or just curious about how technology is shaping our world, you found the right place. So grab your favorite drink, settle in and let's explore the fascinating world of technology together. Welcome back everyone to the podcast where we break down the latest in innovation, development and everything in between. Greg I'm your host Greg Doig and today we're diving into the best of Microsoft Build 2025. This year's build was packed with groundbreaking announcements, hands on experiences and a clear message. AI is no longer the future, it's the now. So let's unpack the highlights the tech and what it all means for us as developers, engineers and tech enthusiasts. Microsoft Build 2025 was a powerhouse of innovation. From AI agents to data platforms and developer tools. The event showcased how Microsoft is weaving intelligence into every layer of its ecosystem. Microsoft is building tools not just for today's problems, but for tomorrow's possibilities. Build wasn't just about announcements, it was about connection. The hub area was buzzing, a space where you could walk up to Microsoft engineers and product managers, ask real world questions. No gatekeeping, just knowledge sharing. Lab sessions were hands on, fast paced and exclusive. In under two hours, you could dive into AI workflows or secure container deployments, all based on real enterprise scenarios. Community tables brought people together to talk certifications, swap tips and build networks. And yes, free certification exams were on offer, including for GitHub Copilot, a great way to validate your skills on the spot. So let's talk AI because build 2025 made it clear Microsoft is all in Azure AI foundry got a major upgrade with a new model leaderboard. Think of it like a comparison engine for AI models. Filter by cost, quality, throughput and find the best fit for your use case. The new model router can automatically pick the best model for a task currently limited to Azure OpenAI models but likely to expand. AI agents were a huge focus. People saw voice enabled agents, a catalog of pre built agents, and the standout, the SRE Agent, a production ready tool for monitoring and troubleshooting Azure apps. Microsoft also expanded knowledge source integration. Now agents can pull data from fabric, Snowflake, Bing, Search, SharePoint and more. And then there's the GitHub Copilot coding agent, a cloud based assistant that can take on tasks, generate code, write docs, even translate, all with minimal human input. And data wasn't left behind. In fact, it was supercharged SQL Server 2025 is now in public preview. It comes with Built in AI CoPilot for T SQL and smart indexing suggestions. It also integrates directly with Microsoft Fabric. Cosmos DB now connects seamlessly with Fabric, removing the need for complex integration layers. Translitical capabilities let you write back to databases from reports using Python, a game changer for real time analytics and the new Digital Twin Builder in Fabric lets you model real world systems with data relationships that behave like the real thing. Every data experience in Fabric now has its own copilot, helping users translate between languages like T SQL and Python and explaining complex code. Microsoft didn't forget about us developers. Microsoft Reactor continues to be a hub for community events and learning. Microsoft learn and GitHub are packed with free resources from AI for beginners courses to certification prep in multiple languages. The Microsoft Developer program offers a 60 day free subscription to try out tools like Fabric. And for Those using Azure DevOps, there's now MCP integration with Copilot to streamline your workflows. Learning is evolving too. Certifications are now role based, not product based, so whether you're an Azure developer or a fabric developer, there's a clear path for you. MVPs are leading community Learning series in English, Portuguese, Greek, Spanish, and more. There's even a Women in AI series focused on helping folks prepare for the AI 900 certification. And if you're looking for community support, the AI Foundry Discord is the place to be with language specific channels and weekly community hours. So what's the big Picture? Microsoft Build 2025 showed us that AI isn't just a feature, it's a foundation. From agents to data platforms to developer tools, Microsoft is building an ecosystem where intelligence is embedded, accessible and adaptable. But here's the kicker. Human oversight still matters. These tools are powerful, but they're designed to work with us, not replace us. So whether you're building apps, managing data, or just starting your tech journey, now's the time to lean in, learn and lead. And that's it for today's episode. If you enjoyed this breakdown of Microsoft Build 2025, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your fellow techies. Until next time, keep building, keep learning, and stay curious. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Tech Brood. If you enjoyed today's discussion, don't forget to subscribe. Wherever you get your podcasts, have questions or suggestions for future topics, reach out on our website or social media channels. Until next time. Greg asked me to remind you that the future of tech is brewing right now, and we're all part of that journey. Stay curious, stay connected, and we will catch you on our next episode.