Microsoft Build 2025: An On-Site Report and Seattle Travelogue

I attended Microsoft Build 2025 in Seattle from May 19 to 22, 2025.

If I had to sum up this year’s Build in one phrase, AI agents were unquestionably the main attraction. Across GitHub, Azure AI Foundry, Copilot Studio, Windows, and Microsoft 365, announcement after announcement focused on building, running, and managing agents across product boundaries. Open technologies for connecting agents to one another and to external tools, including Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent2Agent (A2A), also received a great deal of attention.

This article begins with an overview of Microsoft Build 2025, its major announcements, and the features that reached GA. From there, I look back through photos at the full trip: leaving Haneda on May 18, attending Build, exploring Seattle, enjoying the food, and returning to Japan on May 25.

A Note on Product Names

This article uses the name “Azure AI Foundry,” which was current when the event took place. The product family was later renamed “Microsoft Foundry.”

Table of Contents

• Microsoft Build 2025 Overview
• Keynote
• Major Announcements and GA Releases
• May 18: From Haneda to Seattle
• Attending Microsoft Build 2025
• Visiting the Microsoft Campus
• Exploring Seattle on Foot
• The Museum of Flight and the University of Washington
• Fremont, Gas Works Park, and Lake Union
• Elliott Bay Cruise
• What I Ate in Seattle
• May 24-25: Returning to Japan
• Conclusion

Microsoft Build 2025 Overview

Microsoft Build is Microsoft’s annual conference for developers. The company also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, and the venue featured exhibits that recreated its early offices and showcased vintage hardware.

In his Opening Keynote, Satya Nadella presented a vision for an “open agentic web”: a world where people no longer interact with websites and services only through screens, but where agents can discover, understand, and use them as tools through standardized interfaces.

Announcements of MCP support across GitHub, Azure AI Foundry, Copilot Studio, Semantic Kernel, Windows, and other products helped make that vision concrete. So did NLWeb, an open project designed to give websites a natural-language interface.

Keynote

I got to see Satya Nadella in person at the venue, along with a demo from Scott Guthrie on the second day. For anyone revisiting the event afterward, the Opening Keynote is the clearest place to start.

Major Announcements and GA Releases

The announcements at a glance

There were far too many announcements to cover them all, so I have focused on the areas closest to the sessions I attended: GitHub, Azure AI Foundry, Copilot Studio, and security. The statuses below reflect where each item stood during Build.

Notable features that reached GA

Azure AI Foundry Agent Service

The most significant GA release was Azure AI Foundry Agent Service.

Beyond simply building agents, the service brought together Connected agents for linking specialists, Trace agents for tracking their work, event-driven execution from Logic Apps, and tools such as Bing Custom Search and Morningstar. Microsoft’s official announcement also outlined plans to bring Semantic Kernel and AutoGen together in a single developer SDK with support for A2A and MCP.

The major change was that agents were no longer being treated as one-off chatbots. Operating them as part of a business system had become central to the product.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 Spring release

The Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 Spring release also reached GA and began rolling out at Build 2025.

The release connected research, analysis, content creation, and agent use within Microsoft 365 through updates including Researcher, Analyst, Agent Store, Copilot Search, and Create. Copilot Tuning and Multi-agent orchestration in Copilot Studio, however, were not GA at the time. Because the announcements mixed capabilities ready for production with those that were only ready to try, it was important to distinguish between the two.

Impressions from the event

GitHub Copilot was expanding beyond code completion in the editor toward becoming a team member that could take an Issue and asynchronously return a Pull Request. Azure AI Foundry was likewise evolving from a place to select models and experiment with prompts into a platform for running, evaluating, monitoring, and governing multiple agents.

MCP emerged at Build 2025 as the common language connecting all these pieces. Over the course of 2025, the focus seemed to be shifting away from making individual agents smarter and toward connecting agents and operating them safely.

May 18: From Haneda to Seattle

From here on, this becomes a travelogue.

My flight left at 10:00 p.m., so I spent the evening eating and having a few drinks at Haneda Airport in the hope that I would sleep well on the plane. The miso ramen at HOKKAIDO KITCHEN was surprisingly good.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

When I arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the immigration line was enormous.

I had installed the Mobile Passport Control app, or MPC, for this trip, so I headed straight to its dedicated lane. It gets a little confusing after writing MCP so many times in a technical article, but this one is MPC. I made it through much faster than expected.

When I later read the U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance, I learned that travelers using ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program must be returning visitors to the United States. This was my first trip with my newly issued ESTA, but I had previously visited Seattle on an earlier ESTA using the same passport. I assume that travel history was why I was eligible.

After immigration, I tested my au Overseas Unlimited connection. Data was working normally, but the connection checker returned an error. When I called support, they confirmed that the service itself was working correctly.

I had completely forgotten that it was around 7:00 a.m. in Japan. They told me that if I wanted a more detailed investigation, I should call back in about three hours, when an engineer would be available. Since everything was working, I decided to leave it at that.

SeaTac/Airport Station

From the airport, I took the Sound Transit Link light rail downtown. I took photos while waiting for the train at SeaTac/Airport Station.

The changes in elevation create places where a detached house can look as though it is perched on the roof of an apartment building, a sight I rarely see in Japan.

A security officer approached while I was taking photos, which made me a little nervous at first. Then he asked, “What kind of photos are you taking with that huge lens?” We got talking and eventually exchanged Instagram accounts. He was genuinely friendly.

At SODO Station, I took a photo because the name reminded me of my colleague Sodo.

Build registration

My first stop was registration for Microsoft Build 2025. I hurried from 3rd Ave & Union St to the Seattle Convention Center.

I spotted a UNIQLO along the way and thought, not for the first time, that they really are everywhere. Registration was about to close, though, so I kept moving. The upside of arriving at the last minute was that the registration area was almost empty.

Hyatt Regency Seattle

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Seattle during Build.

The Grand Hyatt Seattle would have been more convenient for the venue, but I had no idea when I booked the Hyatt Regency Seattle. Still, the hotel served free breakfast to Build attendees, which was excellent.

In the evenings after returning to the hotel, I would have a beer at Andare Kitchen & Bar on the first floor.

For the additional nights, I moved to the Sheraton Grand Seattle to stay with the person I was traveling with. I mostly returned there just to sleep, so for better or worse, I did not have much time to enjoy the hotel itself. The Starbucks on the first floor made breakfast easy.

Attending Microsoft Build 2025

Keynote and sessions

I saw Satya Nadella at the Opening Keynote and Scott Guthrie at the keynote on the second day. I also got to see Mark Russinovich and Scott Hanselman in sessions, which alone made the trip feel worthwhile.

Most of the sessions I attended covered GitHub, Copilot Studio, and Azure AI Foundry, along with a few on security. Watching live demos while hearing the speakers in the room carries an energy that an online video simply cannot reproduce.

Expo

The Expo floor was lined with booths for Microsoft products, GitHub, partner companies, and community groups. There was also an exhibit displaying Microsoft MVP names and a shop selling GitHub merchandise.

I no longer remember whether the GitHub merchandise became a prize at an Azure Travelers Ehime meetup or whether I quietly left it at the venue for whoever found it first.

I wish I could have added an Azure Travelers sticker to the community display. I still wonder what kind of application was required to participate.

Lunch and drinks

When I attended Microsoft MVP Global Summit and Microsoft Ignite many years ago, I remember struggling with lunches that did not really suit my tastes. These days, though, the food at Microsoft conferences is genuinely good.

There seemed to be more dishes with globally inspired spices and more options that would appeal to a wide range of people.

Drinks were free all day, not only at lunch. Many of them were sweet, though. I would have appreciated bottled water as another option. Starbucks coffee was also complimentary.

Microsoft’s 50th anniversary exhibit

Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. The venue featured exhibits recreating its early offices and displaying vintage computers and products from across the company’s history.

Seattle Dog

I bought a Seattle Dog from Dog in the Park next to the venue. The combination of cream cheese and sausage was unbelievably good.

Attendee Party at Lumen Field

The Microsoft Build 2025 Attendee Party was held at Lumen Field. Buses ran to the venue from several hotels.

Large bags were not allowed, so I took only my smartphone, wallet, and passport. It is not every day that you get to stand on an American football field, and I had a fantastic time.

I also tried kicking an American football. I did not know what to call it and referred to it as a “free kick,” but I think it was a field goal attempt.

Afterward, we played soccer on the field. Exercise is hard when you have been drinking.

Visiting the Microsoft Campus

Sessions ended in the morning on May 22, the final day. Afterward, a Japanese-language wrap-up session for partner companies visiting from Japan was held at the Microsoft campus in Redmond.

Starting with Microsoft Ignite 2025, this wrap-up became an official session and recordings were published. At the time of this trip, however, it still felt like a local initiative from Microsoft Japan.

Since I was on campus, I bought T-shirts and a few other things at the Microsoft Company Store. I think I bought a 50th anniversary T-shirt and later gave that away as a prize at an Azure Travelers Ehime meetup too.

The station and tracks near campus were already complete, but direct Link service from downtown Seattle was not yet open during this trip. The next time I visit Seattle, I would like to take the train all the way to campus.

Exploring Seattle on Foot

Before and after Build, I carried my camera around downtown and along the waterfront.

Lime electric scooters were scattered around the streets, alongside unusual drainpipes, the monorail, police cars, and buses. In front of the Seattle Art Museum, the enormous Hammering Man kept swinging his arm.

The greenery was striking as I walked, and the Space Needle kept appearing between buildings. I also used the buses often. One question stayed with me: why does steam rise from the streets in American cities?

Victor Steinbrueck Park

Victor Steinbrueck Park offers views of Elliott Bay, the Ferris wheel, the stadiums, and many other sides of Seattle.

People in the United States really do love gathering on the grass. I also saw a barber cutting hair on the street, which was quite a surprise.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated highway that looked almost abandoned, once stood between the park and the bay. With it gone, the view toward the waterfront feels much more open.

Pike Place Market and Gum Wall

Pike Place Market is famous for fresh seafood, but for me, it is just as strongly associated with flowers. I used to see musicians performing on nearby streets, although I did not come across any on this trip.

As always, every inch of the Gum Wall was covered in chewing gum. This was the first time I noticed a nearby vending machine selling gum for visitors to add to the wall.

Waterfront Park

Waterfront Park is home to the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Great Wheel, and the downtown skyline looks beautiful from the water’s edge. At night, the Ferris wheel glows beside the bay and gives the area a completely different atmosphere from the daytime.

There were plenty of other people with cameras in this area, and several commented on the size of my lens. The security officer at SeaTac had done the same. Maybe people in the United States just appreciate a big lens.

The first Starbucks and the Reserve Roastery

The Starbucks at Pike Place Market usually has a very long line. I went during an early morning walk this time, so hardly anyone was waiting yet.

I also stopped by Starbucks Reserve Roastery Seattle. Even simply watching the enormous roasting equipment and browsing a menu unlike the one at an ordinary Starbucks made it an enjoyable place to visit.

About the Closure

The store was open when I visited, but it closed on September 25, 2025.

The Museum of Flight and the University of Washington

The Museum of Flight

I took a bus to The Museum of Flight, passing Lumen Field along the way.

Both buses and trains accept ORCA, which makes getting around incredibly convenient. The card handles transfer discounts and connections within the allotted time. On buses, you tap when you board; on Link light rail, you tap on before boarding and tap off after getting off.

A sign at the museum said Microsoft employees received a discount, but it applied only to employees of Microsoft in the United States. My Microsoft Japan employee ID was not accepted.

With exhibits ranging from NASA and spaceflight to aviation, you could easily spend an entire day there. It is the kind of place that would keep an airplane-loving kid excited all day.

Here too, someone carrying a Fujifilm camera asked me, “What lens is that?”

University of Washington

The University of Washington has a wonderful campus atmosphere. Drumheller Fountain is striking, and on a clear day Mount Rainier appears in the distance behind it.

The reading room in Suzzallo Library truly feels like the world of Harry Potter. Students were reading on benches across the lawn, creating a picture-perfect scene of university life.

Near the university, I found a bubble tea shop called TP TEA. I took a break there, amused to find this kind of shop in the United States too.

Fremont, Gas Works Park, and Lake Union

Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden

Seattle has always struck me as a city with excellent craft beer. Wanting to visit a brewery, I headed to Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden.

The atmosphere was great, and drinking beer together in the afternoon was a lot of fun. I also played Jenga for the first time and loved it.

Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park preserves the machinery of a decommissioned gas plant. The landscape looked like something from Final Fantasy or Howl’s Moving Castle.

The buildings across the water sit on steep slopes, giving the city a sense of depth. It also reminded me of the town in Porco Rosso. And once again, everyone seemed to love the grass.

When I looked up the bird in my photo, I learned that it was a Canada goose, identified by its black head and neck, white cheeks, and brown body.

Lake Union

While walking around Lake Union, I happened to catch the Fremont Bridge rising just as a boat passed through.

Adobe and Google also have offices nearby. The way an IT hub and life on the water sit side by side feels distinctly Seattle.

Elliott Bay Cruise

I boarded a sightseeing cruise around Elliott Bay with Argosy Cruises Seattle Waterfront.

From the bay, Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the city’s skyscrapers all come into view at once. The sense of scale is completely different from walking through the city, and it becomes clear just how closely Seattle is nestled between the sea and the mountains.

What I Ate in Seattle

The Crab Pot Seattle

The Crab Pot Seattle is known for its seafood feasts served from a bucket.

When you order, a bucket of crab, shrimp, shellfish, corn, and more is dramatically emptied across the table. From there, you crack the shells with a mallet and dig in. The clam chowder was delicious too.

Old Stove Brewing Co — Pike Place

Both the beer and the pizza at Old Stove Brewing Co — Pike Place were fantastic.

I also wanted to visit Old Stove Brewing Ship Canal, but I ran out of time on this trip.

Ivar’s Acres of Clams

Eating clam chowder at Ivar’s Acres of Clams has somehow become a ritual whenever I visit Seattle. Naturally, I had it again this time.

Yard House

This was my first visit to Yard House, but I ended up going twice during the trip.

Restaurants serving dinner tend to close early in Seattle. When it got late, we searched for somewhere still open and ordered an enormous beer and an equally enormous piece of meat.

Ivar’s Pier 54 Fish Bar

Ivar’s Pier 54 Fish Bar is like a fast-food version of Ivar’s. There were plenty of seagulls nearby.

May 24-25: Returning to Japan

For the trip home, I took the Link light rail back to SeaTac/Airport Station. I ate a salad and a few other things at the airport before leaving Seattle.

As soon as I reached Haneda, I went for tsukemen at Setagaya. Japanese noodles are especially comforting just after returning home.

Conclusion

Microsoft Build 2025 centered on announcements that would shift software from something people use into something people and agents build together, with agents connecting to one another. GitHub Copilot coding agent, Azure AI Foundry Agent Service, Multi-agent orchestration in Copilot Studio, Windows AI Foundry, and MCP support all reflected that direction.

The GA release of Azure AI Foundry Agent Service in particular showed that the conversation was moving beyond prototyping agents and into operating them with connectivity, monitoring, evaluation, and governance. Coding agent, Entra Agent ID, and Multi-agent orchestration, on the other hand, were still in Preview at the time. Beyond the excitement of an announcement, it is important to understand how ready each capability is for production.

As a trip, it gave me the chance to see the people I had hoped to see in keynotes and sessions, enjoy the Expo and the party at Lumen Field, and spend the days before and after Build exploring Seattle’s streets, university, aviation museum, breweries, and waterfront.

I have visited Seattle several times, but every walk with a camera reveals a new view. Next time, I want to take the Link light rail to Microsoft’s Redmond campus and stop at Old Stove Brewing Ship Canal, which I missed on this trip.