Microsoft has unveiled its January 2026 update for the Azure SDK, introducing significant enhancements and new AI capabilities for developers. The update prominently features the release of AI Foundry 1.2.0-beta.1 for .NET, which significantly advances support for the Foundry Agents Service. This version offers developers enhanced tools for evaluation, insights, red teaming support, and improved scheduling options, streamlining the process of building AI applications on Azure.
In addition, Azure AI Search has been updated to version 11.8.0-beta.1 for .NET, which aligns with the 2025-11-01-preview service layer. This update introduces new features, including various facet aggregations (such as averages and maximum values) and an expanded range of knowledge sources, which encompass web data, remote SharePoint, indexed SharePoint, and OneLake. Furthermore, the integration of advanced Azure OpenAI models, including GPT-5 and its variants, enhances the capabilities of Azure AI Search, allowing developers to harness cutting-edge language models directly within their applications.
However, the update carries some breaking changes, most notably the renaming of the Knowledge Agent to Knowledge Base across all APIs and model references. Developers relying on the previous terminology should prepare for necessary code adjustments to accommodate this change.
Additionally, Microsoft has rolled out a stable version 1.0.0 of the Azure Functions extension for Web PubSub and Socket.IO, enabling developers to reliably create real-time chat applications and interactive services. This extension integrates the familiar Socket.IO programming model with Azure Web PubSub's robust backend through Azure Functions, simplifying the development of real-time features.
Overall, the January 2026 Azure SDK release exemplifies Microsoft's commitment to enhancing the developer experience with powerful new tools and features while also addressing the need for up-to-date documentation and support for evolving codebases.
In future updates, we can expect continued improvements to AI functionalities, further integrations with Azure's service ecosystem, and ongoing refinement of tools that empower developers to create innovative solutions in the cloud
In addition, Azure AI Search has been updated to version 11.8.0-beta.1 for .NET, which aligns with the 2025-11-01-preview service layer. This update introduces new features, including various facet aggregations (such as averages and maximum values) and an expanded range of knowledge sources, which encompass web data, remote SharePoint, indexed SharePoint, and OneLake. Furthermore, the integration of advanced Azure OpenAI models, including GPT-5 and its variants, enhances the capabilities of Azure AI Search, allowing developers to harness cutting-edge language models directly within their applications.
However, the update carries some breaking changes, most notably the renaming of the Knowledge Agent to Knowledge Base across all APIs and model references. Developers relying on the previous terminology should prepare for necessary code adjustments to accommodate this change.
Additionally, Microsoft has rolled out a stable version 1.0.0 of the Azure Functions extension for Web PubSub and Socket.IO, enabling developers to reliably create real-time chat applications and interactive services. This extension integrates the familiar Socket.IO programming model with Azure Web PubSub's robust backend through Azure Functions, simplifying the development of real-time features.
Overall, the January 2026 Azure SDK release exemplifies Microsoft's commitment to enhancing the developer experience with powerful new tools and features while also addressing the need for up-to-date documentation and support for evolving codebases.
In future updates, we can expect continued improvements to AI functionalities, further integrations with Azure's service ecosystem, and ongoing refinement of tools that empower developers to create innovative solutions in the cloud
Azure SDK Release (January 2026) released
Microsoft has announced its January 2026 update for the Azure SDK, which brings new AI features and expands services available to developers. The update includes a major step forward in supporting Foundry Agents Service through AI Foundry 1.2.0-beta.1 for .NET, offering improved evaluation, insights, and scheduling options, among other tools. Additionally, Azure AI Search has been updated with version 11.8.0-beta.1 for .NET, incorporating new features such as facet aggregations, expanded knowledge source options, and integration with Azure OpenAI models like GPT-5. However, the update also includes some breaking changes, including a name change from Knowledge Agent to Knowledge Base.
