At the Build 2025 conference, Microsoft unveiled Windows AI Foundry, a significant upgrade from its previous Windows Copilot Runtime service. This new platform aims to streamline the development of AI-driven applications on Windows devices. Microsoft positions Windows AI Foundry as a “unified platform for local AI development,” designed to enhance the tuning, optimisation, and deployment of AI models that power applications on Windows.
With AI emerging as a key revenue generator despite the investment required for developing major models, Microsoft sees substantial potential in this sector. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the company generates approximately $13 billion annually from AI, largely attributed to its collaboration with OpenAI.
Although Microsoft may not directly profit from third-party AI applications, it seeks to create a vibrant ecosystem that will overshadow competitors by simplifying AI software development for its operating system. Windows AI Foundry is an integral part of this strategy.
The platform can automatically identify a Windows machine’s hardware, fetching the necessary software components to operate specific AI models efficiently. It also ensures these components are updated with new device releases, thereby simplifying the model preparation process for developers.
An exciting feature of Windows AI Foundry is Foundry Local, which facilitates deploying AI models directly on client devices. Supporting both Windows and macOS, Foundry Local includes various modules to run AI models locally, utilising the ONNX Runtime—an open-source project that accelerates AI across platforms.
Foundry Local introduces a command-line interface, enabling developers to interact with local models through commands like “Foundry model list” and “Foundry model run,” making it easier to explore and test models on a local server. Additionally, it automatically detects device hardware, including CPU, GPU, and NPU, presenting compatible models for developers to experiment with. The integration of the Foundry Local SDK allows developers to seamlessly embed this functionality into their applications.
In summary, Windows AI Foundry represents Microsoft’s commitment to empowering developers and fostering innovation in AI application development on its flagship platform, furthering its ambition to strengthen its position in the AI landscape.
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