Microsoft’s developer conference, Build, is almost upon us. Hot on the heels of Google I/O and just ahead of Apple’s WWDC, Microsoft’s Build conference will take place on June 2 and June 3 in San Francisco. Like virtually all tech events for the past few years, we expect the Windows maker to focus a lot on AI. On Monday, CEO Satya Nadella will take the stage and tell the world about what Microsoft has been up to and its plans for the future. The opening keynote will begin on June 2 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. In person attendees have shelled out nearly $1,100, but much of the event will be streamed live online for free.

When And Where Is Microsoft Build

Microsoft’s Build developer conference will take place on June 2 and June 3 in San Francisco. The opening keynote begins on June 2 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. In person tickets cost nearly $1,100, but most of the event will be streamed live on video platforms where it can be viewed for free. This is a developer focused conference, so the announcements will be technical in nature, but they often preview features that will eventually reach regular consumers.

Copilot And AI Agents

Copilot is now the vehicle for Microsoft’s AI endeavors, so it is expected to take center stage during this year’s conference. During Microsoft’s latest earnings call, Nadella said the company is evolving its family of Copilots from synchronous assistants to async coworkers that can execute long running tasks across key domains. Agent Mode is now the default mode across several Office 365 Copilot products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Agents will be the new normal and focus for Microsoft going forward. Nadella stated that we are at the beginning of one of the most consequential platform shifts that will change the entire tech stack as agents proliferate and become the dominant workload. Agentic AI is everywhere at this point, but its capabilities will likely be at the center of Microsoft’s announcements.

Unlike a typical chatbot, agentic AI can perform tasks on your behalf. An agent can surface relevant information in your email inbox or even shop for you. We already know that Microsoft’s own AI assistant, Copilot, is becoming more agentic in Office 365, and that is expected to extend further into its products and operating system.

OpenClaw Integration

It is hard to talk about agentic AI in 2026 without mentioning OpenClaw, and Build will certainly feature some conversation around the viral AI agent tool. The creator of OpenClaw is hosting a breakout session this year. This suggests that Microsoft is taking the open source agentic AI community seriously and may be looking for ways to integrate or partner with popular tools.

New Coding Models

One possibility is that Microsoft could introduce a new coding model to increase the number of people using its GitHub Copilot. More models are also on the way, specializing in advanced reasoning, images, and speech. This would make GitHub Copilot more powerful and accessible to a wider range of developers, potentially including those who do not primarily write code in traditional programming languages.

Windows 12 Speculation

There is not much to say about Windows 12 because Microsoft has not said much either. Still, Build would be a great time to announce the next version of the company’s operating system. Providing at least a glimpse of what is to come seems reasonable. It will be interesting if Microsoft has something truly innovative up its sleeve, especially on the heels of Google’s announcement for its new operating system that merges Android and ChromeOS.

Not everyone is impressed with the AI in Windows, as it is essentially unavoidable. Microsoft has been continually adding AI features into its operating system, and Copilot itself can sometimes feel more intrusive than helpful. All of this frustration has led many users to look into Linux based operating systems to free themselves of the loaded AI found in Windows. What could end up happening is nothing. Microsoft will undoubtedly announce new features that will make their way to Windows, but it might not necessarily need a new version number to highlight them.

Xbox And Gaming

There is no indication that Microsoft will spend any time on gaming at Build, though there is always a chance it could have something hiding up its sleeve. In early May, the company backed down on adding Copilot AI to its gaming consoles, with the CEO of Xbox stating that Microsoft will begin winding down Copilot on mobile and stop development of Copilot on consoles. What is next for Xbox is anyone’s guess, but it is unlikely to take up much space at Build this year.

Pros And Cons

Pros

• Free live stream available online for anyone to watch
• Agentic AI promises to evolve from assistants to async coworkers that can execute long running tasks
• OpenClaw creator hosting a breakout session indicates Microsoft engaging with open source community
• New coding models could make GitHub Copilot more powerful and accessible
• Potential Windows 12 announcement would be a major highlight
• Build takes place before Apple’s WWDC, allowing Microsoft to set the agenda

Cons

• In person tickets cost nearly $1,100, expensive for many developers
• AI focus may feel repetitive as every tech conference emphasizes similar themes
• Copilot in Windows can feel intrusive rather than helpful to some users
• No clear indication whether Windows 12 will actually be announced
• Microsoft backed down on Copilot for Xbox, so gaming fans may be disappointed
• Frustration with AI loaded Windows has driven some users to Linux