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Microsoft retires AutoGen and debuts Agent Framework to unify and govern enterprise AI agents
Microsoft is consolidating its agent frameworks, including AutoGen and Semantic Kernel, into a single offering called the Microsoft Agent Framework. This new framework aims to provide a unified platform for building, orchestrating, and managing AI agents. AutoGen and Semantic Kernel will be moved to maintenance mode, receiving bug fixes but no new features. The Agent Framework emphasizes observability, security, and responsible AI features. It integrates capabilities for local experimentation, API integration, and building multi-agent systems across various platforms. Key responsible AI features include Task Adherence, PII Detection, and Prompt Shields. Microsoft is also contributing to the OpenTelemetry standard for enhanced observability. The move signifies Microsoft's strategy to simplify agent development and deployment. This consolidation aims to allow enterprises to build and manage powerful, trustworthy AI agents effectively. Existing workloads on AutoGen and Semantic Kernel will remain safe with no planned breaking changes.
