Windows Weekly 933: Live from Build – Detailed Summary

Release Date: May 22, 2025

Hosts:

• Leo Laporte
• Paul Thurrott
• Richard Campbell

Location: Seattle, Washington – Microsoft’s Developers Conference Build

Introduction

In this special episode of Windows Weekly, hosted by Leo Laporte alongside Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, the trio delves into the latest happenings from Microsoft's annual Build conference. With a focus on the keynote’s substantial announcements centered around Agentic AI, the hosts explore a wide array of topics ranging from security disruptions during the event to significant company layoffs and advancements in developer tools.

Security and Protests at Build

Disruptions During the Keynote: The Build conference faced considerable disruptions due to protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, leading to heightened security measures.

• Paul Thurrott [02:16]: "I just want to be clear. I take no stance on the Israel, Palestine thing, but it has, there's a lot of protesters. It has, yeah. It's inserted itself into our lives here."

• Richard Campbell [03:01]: "It's way more than just a brief stumble; the situation escalated with organized, aggressive actions from protesters."

Impact on the Event: The protests led to increased security presence resembling a "military zone," making entry and exit challenging for attendees.

• Leo Laporte [03:29]: "Day one was like a military zone here. It was like police and tactical gear, like big trucks driving around."

Continued Disruptions: Throughout the event, multiple sessions were interrupted, highlighting the pervasive tension surrounding the conference.

• Paul Thurrott [04:50]: "I saw this… It was a way to disrupt in that moment. And that's what's been happening. There's been a lot of stuff like that."

Microsoft Layoffs and Organizational Impact

Amidst the Build conference, Microsoft announced significant layoffs, impacting approximately 6,000 employees, predominantly developers.

• Richard Campbell [12:56]: "The other shadow of the show is the layoffs. Last week, it really seemed to have hit the company hard."

• Paul Thurrott [13:05]: "6,000 people in this equation. It's like 2 billion a year. They did 10 billion in buybacks that quarter."

Employee Morale: The random nature of the layoffs has instilled uncertainty and reduced morale among remaining employees.

• Richard Campbell [14:14]: "It feels like a countrywide warning. This could happen to you."

• Paul Thurrott [15:24]: "This is the beginning of it. Unfortunately, what happens is when you see this on the news, it gives other people ideas."

Keynote Highlights: Agentic AI

Microsoft’s keynote introduced Agentic AI, showcasing advancements in artificial intelligence designed to assist developers and end-users through multi-agent systems.

• Leo Laporte [23:25]: "What stood out was the chemistry demo. They used Agentic AI to develop a new cooling compound without harmful chemicals, demonstrating AI's capability to handle complex scientific inquiries."

Demonstrations: A notable demonstration involved submerging an Xbox motherboard in a newly invented chemical to showcase AI-driven material innovation.

• Leo Laporte [24:04]: "They made an Xbox motherboard operate submerged in this new chemical. And then he said, well, if this seems like a demo, don't. It's not. We did this, right?"

Developer Tools and AI Integration

NL Web and Interoperability Standards: Microsoft announced NL Web, aimed at enhancing natural language interactions with websites and ensuring interoperability across AI agents.

• Paul Thurrott [25:17]: "NL Web allows website operators to provide natural language interfaces for their users, addressing issues like poor site searches."

GitHub Copilot Enhancements: Integration of GitHub Copilot into Visual Studio Code and other IDEs was highlighted, emphasizing open-source contributions and cross-platform support.

• Paul Thurrott [47:00]: "They announced open-sourcing GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code, allowing more flexibility and integration with other AI tools."

Windows AI Foundry: Microsoft introduced the Windows AI Foundry, offering over 1,900 AI models accessible both locally and via the cloud through Azure AI Foundry.

• Richard Campbell [25:33]: "It's about maintaining flexibility and providing a vast array of models for developers to utilize in their applications."

Windows Updates and Developments

Windows App SDK and WinUI 3: Improvements to the Windows App SDK, particularly with WinUI 3, were discussed, focusing on better support for desktop applications and modular component installation.

• Paul Thurrott [65:51]: "WinUI 3 now operates as an SDK, decoupled from Windows versions, allowing developers to utilize modern APIs without version constraints."

Desired State Configuration (DSC) 3: The latest version of PowerShell, DSC 3, was introduced, enhancing cross-platform capabilities and configuration management.

• Richard Campbell [117:30]: "DSC 3 is fully cross-platform, allowing configuration management not just on Windows but also on Linux systems."

User Account Protection Enhancements: Microsoft announced advanced user account protection mechanisms aimed at minimizing security risks by limiting elevated privileges.

• Paul Thurrott [80:07]: "Administrative protection creates temporary elevated accounts for specific tasks, enhancing overall system security."

Xbox and Gaming News

Retro Gaming Anthology: Microsoft unveiled a new retro gaming collection featuring over 50 classic Activision titles, available exclusively through Xbox Game Pass.

• Paul Thurrott [99:00]: "The anthology includes classics like Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom, and Pitfall, making it a valuable addition for game enthusiasts."

Streaming Integration: Integration of GeForce Now into the Xbox app was announced, allowing seamless streaming of games across platforms, including PC and mobile.

• Paul Thurrott [99:00]: "With GeForce Now integration, Xbox app users can now stream their favorite games directly, enhancing cross-platform gaming experiences."

Upcoming Releases: Upcoming titles like "Hellblade 2" and "Stalker 2" were highlighted as key additions to the Game Pass lineup, promising engaging single-player experiences.

• Paul Thurrott [106:30]: "Hellblade 2 and Stalker 2 are set to join Game Pass, offering players rich narratives and immersive gameplay."

Agentic AI Demos and Concerns

AI-Generated Content: The hosts discussed the implications of AI-generated content, including realistic podcast simulations and image generation, raising concerns about authenticity and intellectual property.

• Leo Laporte [41:25]: "We might soon have AI-generated versions of our podcasts, which raises questions about authenticity and the essence of human interaction."

Ethical Considerations: The rapid advancement of AI technologies like Agentic AI brings forth ethical dilemmas related to content creation, security, and potential misuse.

• Paul Thurrott [08:29]: "People believe AI is a plagiarism machine, which leads to serious protests and ethical debates."

Interaction with AI Tools

Image Generation Improvements: Microsoft showcased significant advancements in AI-driven image generation, with readable text and improved realism in generated images.

• Richard Campbell [77:00]: "The primary advance is that text within AI-generated images remains readable, a significant improvement over previous models."

Impact on Media and Content Creation: The integration of AI tools into everyday applications like browsers and editors is transforming how content is created and interacted with, prompting both excitement and apprehension.

• Paul Thurrott [34:06]: "This could become the next Web 2.0, fundamentally changing how users interact with websites and applications."

Windows Insider Preview and Upcoming Features

Click-to-Do Feature: A major update introduces the Click-to-Do feature in Windows 11, allowing users to interact with on-screen content through smart actions like text summarization and image manipulation.

• Paul Thurrott [65:10]: "Click-to-Do allows users to perform actions based on the type of content they're interacting with, such as summarizing text in Notepad or editing images in Paint."

App Actions API: Developers can now integrate their applications into the Click-to-Do submenu, enhancing interoperability and expanding the functionality of Windows 11.

• Richard Campbell [58:53]: "Third-party apps like Zoom and Todoist have started adopting the App Actions API, enabling more seamless integrations."

Release Preview Builds: Windows Insider program participants can expect new features to roll out in the upcoming release preview builds, including seconds display reinstated in the clock and enhanced security settings.

• Paul Thurrott [55:24]: "The next preview build will bring back the seconds display in the clock, among other refinements to AI integrations."

Closing Remarks and Announcements

Club TWiT Membership: Leo Laporte emphasized the benefits of Club TWiT membership, including ad-free content, access to exclusive keynotes, and participation in the Club TWiT Discord community.

• Leo Laporte [108:11]: "Joining Club TWiT not only supports the show but also grants you access to exclusive content and a vibrant community."

Upcoming Shows and Events: The hosts teased upcoming events, including celebrating 2,000 episodes of the Gizwiz and various interactive segments within the Club TWiT Discord.

• Leo Laporte [110:43]: "We're celebrating 2,000 episodes of the Gizwiz and have several exciting shows lined up in the Club TWiT Discord."

Notable Quotes

• Leo Laporte [01:13]: "I have to say I really enjoyed Monday's keynote… So we're doing it privately in the club."

• Paul Thurrott [08:29]: "This is only a matter of time. This is like a science fiction movie made real."

• Richard Campbell [25:33]: "They're all vulnerable. Nobody has the confidence to say, oh no, we're going to be able to do this end-to-end ourselves."

• Leo Laporte [37:00]: "We're the most successful company on earth on many measures, and they're being super aggressive."

• Paul Thurrott [77:00]: "Text is readable. Exactly."

Conclusion

Episode 933 of Windows Weekly provides an in-depth analysis of the Microsoft Build conference, highlighting significant developments in Agentic AI, security challenges, organizational changes, and advancements in developer and gaming tools. The hosts offer a balanced perspective, acknowledging both the innovative strides and the unsettling disruptions surrounding the technology giant. As Microsoft continues to integrate AI across its ecosystem, the implications for developers, users, and the broader tech landscape remain profound and multifaceted.