Sharda_Kaur presents a detailed recap of Model Mondays S2E9, highlighting the rollout of GPT-5 and GPT-OSS in Azure AI Foundry, agent workflow features in Azure AI Agent Service, and a customer case study on agentic AI in practice.

Model Mondays S2E9: Models for AI Agents

Author: Sharda_Kaur

Welcome to Episode 9

In this episode, we explored the forefront of agentic AI with a focus on Azure AI Foundry, model and tool updates, and practical implementation insights.

1. Weekly Highlights

  • GPT-5 and GPT-OSS Models Launch:
    • Azure AI Foundry now supports the latest GPT-5 models (including Mini and Nano variants) and open-weight GPT-OSS (120B, 20B). These models bring enhanced reasoning, fast agentic tasks, and broader deployment options via the Model Router.
  • New Vision Models (Flux 1 Context Pro, Flux 1.1 Pro):
    • Image generation, editing, and style transfer now possible in Azure AI Foundry’s Image Playground, thanks to new releases from Black Forest Labs.
  • Browser Automation Tool (Preview):
    • Natural language-powered web automation is available for agents, streamlining UI tasks through API or SDK.
  • GitHub Copilot Agent Mode & Playwright MCP:
    • Copilot now integrates with Playwright MCP Server to enable automatic UI bug detection and remediation with AI.
  • Discord Community:
    • The Azure AI developer community is active on Discord, providing feedback channels and peer support.

2. Spotlight On: Azure AI Agent Service & Agent Catalog

  • Azure AI Agent Service:
    • Managed platform for creating, deploying, and scaling agent-based AI solutions.
    • Enables modular, reusable, multi-agent workflows with built-in authentication and Azure integrations.
  • Agent Catalog:
    • Repository of open-source agent templates and workflow samples including orchestrators and specialized agents for tasks (support, research, etc.).
  • Demos Covered:
    • Orchestrating connected sub-agents.
    • Linking hierarchical agents for complex workflows (e.g., support handling with escalation).
    • Visual, no-code workflow design and Azure Logic Apps integration for connecting with 1400+ external apps/services.

3. Customer Story: Atomic Work

  • Problem:
    • Traditional IT service management is slow and fragmented.
  • Solution:
    • “Atom”: A universal, multimodal agent spanning Teams, browser, etc., answering enterprise queries and automating workflows.
    • Regular ingestion of documentation/context ensures relevant answers; built on Azure for robust security.
    • Demos included agent-led password resets, VPN troubleshooting, and GitHub access—sometimes with UI walkthroughs for users.

4. Key Takeaways

  1. Agentic AI is production-ready: Azure AI Agent Service and Agent Catalog simplify deployment of scalable agent workflows.
  2. No-code, modular design: Workflow Designer makes building agent graphs and triggers accessible to all developers.
  3. Open-source and extensible: Agent Catalog is welcoming to community contributions and practical innovation.
  4. Measurable real-world impact: Enterprises like Atomic Work show how agentic AI boosts IT and support efficiency.
  5. Active support channels: Discord and the Azure AI forum connect you with experts and peers.

Sharda’s Tips: How I Wrote This Blog

“I use simple language, real examples, and Copilot-driven organization to share what I learned. My goal: show that agentic AI and Azure are accessible to all backgrounds. The prompt I used for Copilot:”

Generate a technical blog post for Model Mondays S2E9 based on the transcript and episode details. Focus on Azure AI Agent Service, Agent Catalog, and real-world demos. Explain the concepts for students, add a section on practical applications, and share tips for writing technical blogs. Make it clear, engaging, and useful for developers and students.

Coming Up Next Week

About Model Mondays

Model Mondays is a weekly series for developers to track Azure AI Foundry model/tooling launches and master practical workflows:

  • 5-Minute Highlights: Azure AI news
  • 15-Minute Spotlight: Feature deep dive
  • 30-Minute AMA: Get subject-matter advice live
  • Join the Discord community

About the Author

Sharda_Kaur is a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador and AI/cloud enthusiast. Connect on GitHub, Dev.to, or LinkedIn. This series recaps lessons and demos from each Model Mondays episode.

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