Microsoft’s Build 2026: AI Agents, Windows Hints, and What Developers Should Watch For

It’s tech conference season again, and Microsoft is stepping up to the plate. Following Google I/O and just before Apple’s WWDC, Build 2026 lands in San Francisco on June 2–3. The opening keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. PT with CEO Satya Nadella, and while in-person tickets run nearly $1,100, the whole thing streams free on YouTube.

If there’s one theme that’ll dominate, it’s AI—specifically, agentic AI. Microsoft has been pushing Copilot hard, and Nadella recently described it as evolving from a synchronous assistant into an “async coworker” that handles long-running tasks. Agent Mode is now the default in Office 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The company sees agents as the next big platform shift, and Build sessions will likely show how they’ll extend deeper into Windows and other products.

One standout session features OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger, whose viral agent tool has become a hot topic. There’s also chatter from The Information about a new coding model for GitHub Copilot, plus specialized models for reasoning, images, and speech.

As for Windows 12? Microsoft has been quiet, but Build could offer a first look. The timing is right, especially after Google’s Android-ChromeOS merger announcement. Still, some users are frustrated with AI features that feel intrusive, and interest in Linux has grown. Microsoft might just roll out new AI features without a full OS version bump.

Don’t expect much on gaming. Xbox recently backed away from Copilot on consoles, and CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the company is winding down that effort. Build will likely stick to developer tools, AI, and possibly a peek at what’s next for Windows.