Windows updates for AI and agents: MCP, ODR, and more

We’re evolving Windows to give developers the premier platform to build the next generation of software experiences that empower people and organizations at scale 🚀 Over the past year, we’ve listened closely to developers and actively engaged with the broader community to identify opportunities to make Windows a secure platform for the future of AI and agents. The result: exciting new updates we are announcing during #MSIgnite. This includes: 🔹 Public preview of native support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) on Windows: A standardized framework for AI agents to connect with apps and tools to automate routine scenarios and perform tasks for users securely with user consent. 🔹 Public preview of Windows On-Device Registry (ODR): A secure, manageable repository of agent connectors, which are essentially MCP servers. 🔹 Public preview of built-in agent connectors for File Explorer & System Settings: Agents can use the File Explorer connector to manage, organize and retrieve local files with user consent. With System Settings connector, agents will be able to adjust Windows system settings like changing from light mode to dark mode or troubleshooting issues, while keeping the user in full control. 🔹Private preview of Agent workspace: A contained, policy-controlled, and auditable environment where agents can interact with software and complete tasks for users in a parallel and separate desktop, without disrupting users’ primary session. 🔹Agent ID: A unique ID distinct from the user ID that makes it possible to audit every action taken by the agent. The agent ID also helps IT distinguish agent interactions from user actions. 🔹 Secure policies and controls: Secure by default policies for developers building agents and agent connectors and security controls for end-users using agents – keeping their data secure. 🔹 Enterprise manageability controls: Enterprise manageability controls for IT admins to configure policies for their enterprise employees to adopt and use agents through typical policy configuration channels for Configuration Service Provider (CSP) policies and Group Policies (GP) starting with Intune in public preview. 🔹 Public preview of new AI APIs in Microsoft Foundry on Windows: Developers can use new APIs powered by Windows on-device models to add AI-powered video enhancement (VSR) and image generation (SDXL) features to their apps. These updates lay the foundation for a new generation of experiences, providing developers and enterprises with enhanced protection, transparency, and governance – introducing platform-level security guardrails to help organizations begin adopting agent-powered workflows. Read more about all of the updates: https://lnkd.in/e2Du3-7P