AI Sparks: AI Toolkit for VS Code - from playground to production
Are you building AI-powered applications from scratch or infusing intelligence into existing production code and systems? AI Sparks is your go-to webinar series for mastering the AI Toolkit (AITK) for VS Code from foundational concepts to cutting-edge techniques. In this bi-weekly, hands-on series, we’ll cover: SLMs & Local Models – Test and deploy AI models and applications efficiently on your own terms locally, to edge devices or to the cloud Embedding Models & RAG – Supercharge retrieval for smarter applications using existing data. Multi-Modal AI – Work with images, text, and beyond. Agentic Frameworks – Build autonomous, decision-making AI systems. What will you learn from this session? Whether you're a developer, startup founder, or AI enthusiast, you'll gain practical insights, live demos, and actionable takeaways to level up your AI integration journey. Join us and spark your AI transformation! You can click here and register for the entire series on the reactor page Episode list You can also sign up for the individual episode and read about the topics covered using the following links: Feb 13 th 2025 – WATCH ON DEMAND @ Introduction to AI toolkit and feature walkthrough In In this episode, we’ll introduce the AI Toolkit extension for VS Code—a powerful way to explore and integrate the latest AI models from OpenAI, Meta, Deepseek, Mistral, and more. With this extension, you can browse state-of-the-art models, download some for local use, or experiment with others remotely. Whether you're enhancing an existing application or building something new, the AI Toolkit simplifies the process of selecting and integrating the right model for your needs. Feb 27 th 2025 – A short introduction to SLMs and local model with use cases In this episode, we’ll explore Small Language Models (SLMs) and how they compare to larger models. SLMs are efficient, require less compute and memory, and can run on edge devices while still excelling at a variety of tasks. We’ll dive into the Phi-3.5 and Phi-4 model series and demonstrate how to build a practical application using these models. Mar 13 th 2025 – How to work with embedding models and build a RAG application In this episode, we’ll dive into embedding models—important tools for working with vector databases and large language models. These models convert text into numerical representations, making it easier to process and retrieve information efficiently. After covering the core concepts, we’ll apply them in practice by building a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) app using Small Language Models (SLMs) and a vector database. Mar 27 th 2025 – Multi-modal support and image analysis In this episode, we’ll dig deeper into multi-modal capabilities of local and remote AI models and use visualization tools for better insights. We’ll also dive into multi-modal support in the AI Toolkit, showcasing how to process and analyze images alongside text. By the end, you’ll see how these capabilities come together to enhance powerful AI applications. Apr 10 th 2025 – Evaluations – How to choose the best model for you applications needs In this episode, we’ll explore how to evaluate AI models and choose the right one for your needs. We’ll cover key performance metrics, compare different models, and demonstrate testing strategies using features like Playground, Bulk Run, and automated evaluations. Whether you're experimenting with the latest models or transitioning to a new version, these evaluation techniques will help you make informed decisions with confidence. Apr 24 th 2025 – Agents and Agentic Frameworks In this episode, we’ll explore agents and agentic frameworks—systems that enable AI models to make decisions, take actions, and automate complex tasks. We’ll break down how these frameworks work, their practical applications, and how to build and integrate them into your projects. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to build and leverage AI agents effectively. We will explore how to use and build agentic frameworks using AI Toolkit. Resources AI toolkit for VSCode - https://aka.ms/AIToolkit AI toolkit for VSCode Documentation - https://aka.ms/AIToolkit/doc Building Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) apps on VSCode & AI Toolkit Understanding and using Reasoning models such as DeepSeek R1 on AI toolkit - Using Ollama and OpenAI, Google and Anthropic hosted models with AI toolkit AI Sparks - YouTube PlaylistMicrosoft Startup Spotlight Live Series
As a founder, developer, or AI enthusiast, have you ever wondered what AI startups are solving, the technologies they use, or the journeys their founders have taken? How do they tackle challenges and create impactful solutions? These are questions we often ask, and there’s no better way to find answers than by hearing directly from the innovators themselves. I’m excited to introduce the Startup Spotlight Series—a bi-weekly live event hosted on the Microsoft Reactor YouTube channel. This series offers a unique opportunity to: Hear exclusive stories from AI startup founders. See live demonstrations of their technologies. Learn about the latest AI trends and real-world solutions for customers’ challenges 💡 Why Should You Tune In? The Startup Spotlight Series isn’t just another livestream—it’s a unique opportunity designed to provide insights, inspiration, and practical value for a variety of audiences: Startups Founders: Learn from the successes (and struggles) of AI startup leaders. Gain actionable insights into building innovative products, scaling businesses, and navigating challenges. Developers: Dive into the technical details with live product demos and behind-the-scenes discussions. See how their solutions are being built and deployed. Students: Discover the latest AI trends and practical applications. Discover how startups are leveraging AI to create impactful solutions. Whether you're looking for inspiration or considering a future in AI, this series is packed with insights to help you grow. AI Enthusiasts: Stay ahead of the curve by learning how startups are revolutionizing industries. From transformative use cases to the stories behind the technologies, you’ll leave every episode inspired. Have burning questions about AI? Each session includes a live Q&A, where you can ask founders directly about their journeys, challenges, and advice. This is your chance to engage with the people shaping the future of AI! Thursday Jan 30 2025, Startup Spotlight: Activeloop Join us for the second episode of the Startup Spotlight Live Series, a space where AI startups share their journeys, showcasing their innovative technologies and demonstrating live product use cases. In this episode, Gabriela de Queiroz sits down with Davit Buniatyan from Activeloop to explore how they’re leveraging Microsoft to grow, scale, and address real-world challenges. Thursday Feb 13th 2025, Startup Spotlight: Synthesized Join us for the third episode of the Startup Spotlight Live Series, a space where AI startups share their journeys, showcasing their innovative technologies and demonstrating live product use cases. In this episode, Gabriela de Queiroz sits down with Nicolai Baldin from Synthesized to explore how they’re leveraging Microsoft to grow, scale, and address real-world challenges. Thursday Feb 27th 2025, Startup Spotlight: Dataloop Join us for the fourth episode of the Startup Spotlight Live Series, a space where AI startups share their journeys, showcasing their innovative technologies and demonstrating live product use cases. In this episode, Gabriela de Queiroz sits down with Dataloop to explore how they’re leveraging Microsoft to grow, scale, and address real-world challenges. Join Us If you’re as excited about the future of AI as I am, I encourage you to tune in to the Startup Spotlight Series. Episodes air every other Thursday at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on the Microsoft Reactor YouTube channel. Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—episodes will be recorded and available for you to watch later at your convenience at Microsoft Reactor Youtube Sign up now to receive reminders and updates for upcoming episodes: aka.ms/startup-spotlight 🚀' But that's not all... Startups can apply (aka.ms/ss-credits) and get tons of benefits: Up to $150,000 in Azure credits Free access to leading AI models through Azure, including OpenAI's models, Llama 2 from Meta, and more. 1:1 meetings with experts who can help solve immediate business challenges, plus provide technical guidance on the latest in AI. 30+ additional free and discounted tools, tech, and services from Microsoft and our partners including M365, GitHub, LinkedIn Premium and more. 👋 See you there!Building Safer AI Applications: A Practical Approach
Building AI-powered applications requires careful attention to responsible development practices. This blog shares our experience implementing AI safety measures while developing a hotel search application with Microsoft Azure services, highlighting practical approaches for developers.
Building HyDE powered RAG chatbots using Microsoft Azure AI Models & Dataloop
Explore how Microsoft Azure AI Models and Dataloop simplify the creation of HyDE-powered RAG chatbots. Dataloop’s platform offers drag-and-drop tools and pre-built workflows, while Azure provides powerful AI models like PHI-3-MINI. This integration enables developers to build next-gen chatbots with superior accuracy and context-specific responses.Microsoft Build 2024: Essential Guide for AI Developers at Startups and Cloud-First Companies
Generative AI is advancing fast, with OpenAI’s GPT-4o leading the way. GPT-4o boasts improved multilingual understanding, faster responses, lower costs, and real-time processing of text, audio, and images. This boosts new Generative AI (GenAI) use cases. Explore cutting-edge solutions like models, frameworks, vector databases, and LLM observability platforms. Born-in-the-cloud companies are at the forefront of this AI revolution. Be part of the future at Microsoft Build 2024!Startup Showcase: 3-2-1-GoCheck
3-2-1-GoCheck, a global background checking startup, and has revolutionized its services by leveraging the Microsoft Founders Hub program. The company offers its comprehensive background checking solutions as a Software as a Service (SaaS), and Founders' Hub benefits have enhanced its accessibility and efficiency. Learn more about 3-2-1-GoCheck: https://youtu.be/jrLkGATZlys?list=PLmsFUfdnGr3ySsJ3KGv7QzHJjkIEd78t6Startup Showcase: Ignitus
In today's fast-paced world, accessible career advice is more crucial than ever. Recognizing this need, Ignitus is offering a unique coaching platform that transcends traditional mentorship. By integrating AI and video coaching, they aim to democratize learning and provide an inclusive experience for all.
