The Productivity Mirage: Why AI Is Changing Work Without Necessarily Improving It Microsoft Research's annual New Future of Work report arrived this week carrying a finding that deserves more attention than it will probably get: AI is not automatically making organisations more productive, and the people most at risk from it are the ones organisations can least afford to lose.

The Productivity Mirage: Why AI Is Changing Work Without Necessarily Improving It themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/04/the-...

🖥️ Windows Server 2016 EOL, Sentinel Lake revealed, AI governance gaps, Defender XDR updates & Claude Code vs Copilot — all in the latest Cloudy with a Chance of Insights.

themicrosoftcloudblog.com/podcast/

#MicrosoftCloud #Azure

Your Agent Estate Is the Next Attack Surface — and Most Organisations Can't Even Inventory It themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/04/your...

Multi-Agent Orchestration Goes GA: What the Latest Copilot Studio Update Means for Enterprise Architects Microsoft's March 2026 Copilot Studio update brings multi-agent orchestration to general availability, and for enterprise architects, it changes the default design assumption. The question is no longe...

Multi-Agent Orchestration Goes GA: What the Latest Copilot Studio Update Means for Enterprise Architects themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/04/mult...

​Building trustworthy AI: A practical framework for adaptive governance - Microsoft Power Platform Blog A practical look at governing AI agents with clarity, speed, and platform‑level enforcement across the enterprise.

AI governance isn't failing because of AI. It's failing because the models were built for a world that no longer exists. New post on the governance gap, platform-enforced controls, and why the thinking still hasn't caught up with the deployments.

is.gd/kgMuy7

#AIGovernance #PowerPlatform

Why your existing tools (probably) can't solve the AI governance problem Your organisation has diagramming tools, a CMDB, an architecture repository, and a risk register. So why can't any of them tell you what your AI systems are actually authorised to do? The tools aren't...

Your org has diagramming tools, a CMDB, an architecture repo, and a risk register. None of them can (probably) tell you what your AI systems are authorised to do, and here's precisely why.

is.gd/ixu6Us

#AIGovernance #EnterpriseArchitecture

Sovereign AI at the Edge: It's Not Just About Where the Data Lives Microsoft and Armada's collaboration to deliver Azure Local on Galleon modular datacenters is more than an edge infrastructure announcement. It reframes what sovereign cloud actually means. It's not j...

Data residency was never the whole sovereignty story. Microsoft + Armada bring Azure Local and Foundry Local to deployable modular datacenters. AI that runs where you need it, even disconnected. 🔒☁️ #AzureLocal #SovereignCloud

themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/04/sove...

Agentic AI and the OWASP Top 10: What Security Teams Need to Do Now The OWASP Top 10 for Agentic Applications (2026) is out, and Microsoft has mapped it to Copilot Studio and the upcoming Agent 365 platform. Here is what security and architecture teams need to take fr...

OWASP Top 10 for Agentic Applications is out. Microsoft maps it to Copilot Studio and Agent 365. New post breaking down what security teams actually need to do with it. 🔐🤖

is.gd/VVljUH

#MicrosoftSecurity #AgenticAI

New pod is out 🎙️

🛡️ Purview/Entra/Intune updates that will quietly catch people out
🤖 Azure Agent Skills repo + MIT GenCad
💬 Vibe coding — honest take on where differentiation actually sits now

themicrosoftcloudblog.com/podcast

#Azure #M365 #Copilot #Podcast

Your AI systems are running. Does anyone know what they're permitted to do? Most organisations deploying AI can't answer a simple question: what is this system actually authorised to do? With the EU AI Act creating real pressure and Microsoft's own security researchers flaggi...

Most AI systems running in production today can't answer a simple question:

"What is this thing actually allowed to do?"

Not vaguely. Not roughly. In writing. In a form you'd hand to a regulator.

The EU AI Act doesn't care that you've been busy.

is.gd/kCldYQ

Building Security for Agentic AI: A Strategic Perspective on End-to-End Trust Agentic AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s rapidly becoming boardroom reality for CISOs and tech leaders alike. 🤖 At RSAC’s milestone 35th year, Microsoft spotlighted an eye-opening stat: 80% ...

Building Security for Agentic AI: A Strategic Perspective on End-to-End Trust themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/03/buil...

New episode 🎙️

Cert changes, identity risk, and why vibe coding is changing how apps are built.

themicrosoftcloudblog.com/podcast/ep31...

#Cloud #AI #Security

New tools and guidance: Announcing Zero Trust for AI Microsoft’s announcement of Zero Trust for AI (ZT4AI) marks a significant moment in enterprise security thinkin

New tools and guidance: Announcing Zero Trust for AI themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/03/new-...

Awesome GitHub Copilot just got a website, and a learning hub, and plugins! - Microsoft for Developers Back in July, we launched the Awesome GitHub Copilot Customizations repo with a simple goal: give the community a place to share custom instructions, prompts, and chat modes to customize the AI respon...

Thank you for catching this, 100% my miss. I have updated the page (and fixed the image issue, which your post caused me to notice :-)).

to save you going back here is the original link.

devblogs.microsoft.com/blog/awesome...

Awesome GitHub Copilot just got a website, and a learning hub, and plugins! themicrosoftcloudblog.com/2026/03/awes...

Trust Undermined: How Fake Developer Interviews Are Becoming a Stealthy Malware Delivery Channel Contagious Interview: Malware delivered through fake developer job interviews The intersection of recruitment and cybersecurity has rarely been as fraught as it is today. Recent research from Microsoft Defender Experts exposes a campaign that weaponises the very workflows meant to identify and onboard technical talent. The so-called "Contagious Interview" operation, active since at least December 2022, demonstrates how threat actors are leveraging social engineering to infiltrate organisations by targeting software developers during the hiring process. In this post, I will unpack the technical mechanics of the attack, examine its broader implications for technology leaders, and offer practical recommendations for defending against this evolving threat.

Trust Undermined: How Fake Developer Interviews Are Becoming a Stealthy Malware Delivery Channel

Contagious Interview: Malware delivered through fake developer job interviews The intersection of recruitment and cybersecurity has rarely been as fraught as it is today. Recent research from Microsoft…

Rethinking AI Agent Memory: PlugMem’s Knowledge-Centric Approach and Its Strategic Implications PlugMem: A single memory system adaptable across AI agent tasks Designing effective memory systems for AI agents has become a critical challenge as these models take on increasingly complex, multi-turn tasks. Traditional approaches often prioritise expanding memory capacity, yet the assumption that more data is always beneficial does not hold up in practice. In my view, Microsoft Research’s PlugMem project introduces a much-needed paradigm shift by reframing agent memory from unstructured logs to reusable, structured knowledge. From Unstructured Logs to Reusable Knowledge The issue with existing AI agent memory is less about storage limits and more about utility.

Rethinking AI Agent Memory: PlugMem’s Knowledge-Centric Approach and Its Strategic Implications

PlugMem: A single memory system adaptable across AI agent tasks Designing effective memory systems for AI agents has become a critical challenge as these models take on increasingly complex, multi-turn…

Build a real-world example with Microsoft Agent Framework, Microsoft Foundry, MCP and Aspire Source: Build a real-world example with Microsoft Agent Framework, Microsoft Foundry, MCP and Aspire Observations on a Real-World AI Agent Application The recent announcement from Microsoft, detailing a practical demonstration of the Microsoft Agent Framework integrated with Foundry, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and Aspire, caught my attention for two reasons. Firstly, it directly addresses the recurring gap between AI agent prototypes and production-grade solutions. Secondly, it answers a frequent request from .NET developers: an open-source example that operates both locally and in cloud-native environments. As someone who has observed several AI frameworks emerge and fade, I find the launch of the Interview Coach sample app notable for its pragmatism.

Build a real-world example with Microsoft Agent Framework, Microsoft Foundry, MCP and Aspire

Source: Build a real-world example with Microsoft Agent Framework, Microsoft Foundry, MCP and Aspire Observations on a Real-World AI Agent Application The recent announcement from Microsoft, detailing a…

From E7 rumours to glass storage, small models, and the quiet death of the device Every so often we record an episode where nothing sounds particularly dramatic, but everything feels important. This was one of those. On paper, this episode should not really work. We moved from rumours of a potential Microsoft E7 licence, to AI coding agents fixing bugs, to small reasoning models from Microsoft Research, to storing data inside glass for thousands of years, and finally into why the browser is rapidly becoming more important than the device underneath it. None of those topics naturally belong together. And yet, once you step back a little, they all point in the same direction.

From E7 rumours to glass storage, small models, and the quiet death of the device

Every so often we record an episode where nothing sounds particularly dramatic, but everything feels important. This was one of those. On paper, this episode should not really work. We moved from rumours of a…

Rethinking Developer Productivity: The Strategic Role of GitHub Copilot Dev Days in the Modern Microsoft Stack The pace of software development has shifted dramatically, with AI tools now woven into the daily routines of Microsoft developers. I’ve observed this transformation accelerate as organisations look for new ways to reduce friction from ideation through deployment, particularly across complex environments like .NET, Java, Python, and TypeScript. The launch of GitHub Copilot Dev Days signals more than just a series of events—it reflects a strategic inflection point for how AI assistance is operationalised within the Microsoft ecosystem. In this analysis, I’ll explore what makes GitHub Copilot Dev Days noteworthy for both technical and business leaders, drawing on specifics from the…

Rethinking Developer Productivity: The Strategic Role of GitHub Copilot Dev Days in the Modern Microsoft Stack

The pace of software development has shifted dramatically, with AI tools now woven into the daily routines of Microsoft developers. I’ve observed this transformation accelerate as…

EP27 | AI Agents, Data Engineering, and the Future of Cloud Careers Podcast Episode · Cloudy with a Chance of Insights · 01/12/2026 · 43m

“At what cost?” Design responsibility in AI was a standout insight from EP27! David Rowley urges us to weigh risks & impacts, not just innovation.

Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e... #AIethics #CloudInsights

Microsoft’s Osmos Acquisition Explained: Autonomous Data Engineering & AI Security | EP27 YouTube video by Cloudy with a Chance of Insights, The MSFT Podcast

🎉 EP27 is out! We unpack Microsoft’s Osmos move, autonomous data engineering, and the future of AI security. Plus, fresh updates on Intune & Purview. Ready for 2030? Watch here: youtu.be/7lBLWWDNLto #CloudOver #AI #Microsoft #DataEngineering

Licensing confusion? Cyrus Irandoust’s practical tips for Microsoft Intune Suite (E3/E5) were a game changer in Ep26! Get the clarity you need:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

#Intune #CloudPodcast #Microsoft #MicrosoftCloud #M365

AI’s turning point is here! Ep26 reveals how Microsoft Research sees real maturity & convergence—automation, science, & workflows are transforming.

Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/7IWh... #CloudyInsights

🎧 New ep! We tackle Microsoft’s AI leaps, MCP hype, Intune tips, & Copilot slip-ups.

The future’s bright (and a bit chaotic)! Watch now: youtu.be/I1s9CK-NZ7w #CloudyInsights #Microsoft #AI #TechPodcast

Intune goes AI-first! Ep25 unpacks how Microsoft is reinventing device management with automation and smarter security.

Get the details: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e... #Intune #AI #Cloud

EP25 | Cloud Security, Vibe Coding & WorkIQ: What’s Real and What’s Hype? Podcast Episode · Cloudy with a Chance of Insights · 12/01/2025 · 49m

Intune goes AI-first!

EP25 unpacks how Microsoft is reinventing device management with automation and smarter security.

Get the details: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

#Intune #AI #Cloud

EP25 | Cloud Security, Vibe Coding & WorkIQ: What’s Real and What’s Hype? Podcast Episode · Cloudy with a Chance of Insights · 12/01/2025 · 49m

ICYMI, EP25 of Cloudy with a Chance of Insights is packed with the latest on #Microsoft #SecurityCopilot, #Defender, native #Sysmon in #Windows 11, and our views on #WorkIQ and #vibecoding.

Listen now on Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Is unified data & AI risk management the future? Ep25 explores Purview’s DSPM and its impact! How will your security posture change with smarter controls?

Tune in: open.spotify.com/episode/5dNR... #CloudSecurity #MicrosoftCloud

Curious about Agent 365? Ep25 dives into how it's transforming AI agent identity & governance for smarter management.

Discover actionable tips now: youtu.be/5YW2XDOUu9Q #MicrosoftCloud #CloudSecurity