Skilling snack: AI for Windows developers

Are you a new Windows developer or looking to skill up on the latest in AI? This skilling snack is for you! Start at the top to learn about Windows Machine Learning (ML)—now generally available—or skip down to the resources that meet your current needs.

Time to learn: 73 mins

Get started with Windows Machine Learning (ML)

• Windows ML is generally available: Empowering developers to scale local AI across Windows devices (10 mins): Ready to scale local AI across Windows devices? Learn how to build AI experiences that are more responsive, private, and cost-effective. Watch this one-minute video teaser for a quick introduction.

• Introducing Windows ML: The future of machine learning development on Windows (10 mins): Preview Windows ML to create AI-infused applications with ease. It’s a cutting-edge runtime optimized for performant on-device model inference and simplified deployment with the foundation of Windows AI Foundry.

• What is Windows ML (4 mins): Visit our technical documentation to learn more about how Windows ML works and what you’ll need to start using it. Get introduced to execution providers (EPs) and learn about automatic EP management for different hardware (CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs).

• Get started with Windows ML (3 mins): Review your device and language-specific prerequisites before using Windows ML. Follow steps to install or update the Windows App SDK depending on whether you use C#, C++, or Python. Then download and register EPs.

The latest from Microsoft Build

• An IT pro’s guide to Windows at Microsoft Build 2025 (5 mins): Get a summary and links to on-demand sessions on developing with and for Windows.

• Advancing Windows for AI development: New platform capabilities and tools introduced at Build 2025 (23 mins): See how Windows is becoming a better dev box for AI development. Find out about Windows AI Foundry, Windows ML, AI APIs, Model Context Protocol (MCP), improvements to Windows Developer tools, security, and more. Watch this one-minute video teaser!

Additional resources for AI development in Windows

• Copilot+ PCs developer guide (11 mins): This updated guidance for developers now includes Windows ML! Find out about device prerequisites, considerations for different silicon chips, unique AI features, and other helpful tips.

• Windows AI Foundry (time varies): Bookmark this gateway to all things Windows AI Foundry as a unified, reliable, and secure platform. It supports the AI developer lifecycle from model selection, fine-tuning, optimizing, and deployment across CPU, GPU, NPU, and cloud.

• Securing the Model Context Protocol: Building a safer agentic future on Windows (7 mins): Learn about MCP as a foundational layer of secure, interoperable agentic computing, currently in preview. Review the requirements, possibilities, and security controls that MCP covers for hosts, clients, and servers.

What are you most excited about building next? Have you tried Windows ML yet? Leave us a comment below and share these resources with your peers! The Windows skilling snacks library has more on Windows and AI, as well as other topics of interest.

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