Skilling for impact: A new era of learning for Microsoft Partners
July 10, 2025
This week in Model Mondays, we put the spotlight on the AI Toolkit for Visual Studio Code – and explore the tools and workflows that make building generative AI apps and agents easier for developers. Read on for my recap.
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About Model Mondays
Model Mondays is a weekly series designed to help you grow your Azure AI Foundry Model IQ step by step. Each week includes:
- 5-Minute Highlights – Quick news and updates about Azure AI models and tools on Monday
- 15-Minute Spotlight – Deep dive into a key model, protocol, or feature on Monday
- 30-Minute AMA on Friday – Live Q&A with subject matter experts from the Monday livestream
If you’re looking to grow your skills with the latest in AI model development, this series is a great place to begin.
Useful links:
- Register for upcoming livestreams
- Watch past episodes
- Join the AMA on AI Developer Experiences
- Visit the Model Mondays forum
Spotlight On: AI Developer Experiences
1. What is this topic and why is it important?
AI Developer Experiences focus on making the process of building, testing, and deploying AI models as efficient as possible. With the right tools—such as the AI Toolkit and Azure AI Foundry extensions for Visual Studio Code—developers can eliminate unnecessary friction and focus on innovation. This is essential for accelerating the real-world impact of generative AI.
2. What is one key takeaway from the episode?
The integration of Azure AI Foundry with Visual Studio Code allows developers to manage models, run experiments, and deploy applications directly from their preferred development environment. This unified workflow enhances productivity and simplifies the AI development lifecycle.
3. How can I get started?
Here are a few resources to explore:
- Install the AI Toolkit for VS Code
- Explore Azure AI Foundry Documentation
- Join the Microsoft Tech Community to follow and contribute to discussions
4. What’s New in Azure AI Foundry?
Azure AI Foundry continues to evolve to meet developer needs with more power, flexibility, and productivity. Here are some of the latest updates highlighted in this week’s episode:
- AI Toolkit for Visual Studio Code
Now with deeper integration, allowing developers to manage models, run experiments, and deploy applications directly within their editor—streamlining the entire workflow. - Prompt Shields
Enhanced security capabilities designed to protect generative AI applications from prompt injection and unsafe content, improving reliability in production environments. - Model Router
A new intelligent routing system that dynamically directs model requests to the most suitable model available—enhancing performance and efficiency at scale. - Expanded Model Catalog
The catalog now includes more open-source and proprietary models, featuring the latest from Hugging Face, OpenAI, and other leading providers. - Improved Documentation and Sample Projects
Newly added guides and ready-to-use examples to help developers get started faster, understand workflows, and build confidently.
My A-Ha Moment
Before watching this episode, setting up an AI development environment always felt like a challenge. There were so many moving parts—configurations, integrations, and dependencies—that it was hard to know where to begin.
Seeing the AI Toolkit in action inside Visual Studio Code changed everything for me. It was a realization moment:
“That’s it? I can explore models, test prompts, and deploy apps—without ever leaving my editor?”
This episode made it clear that building with AI doesn’t have to be complex or intimidating. With the right tools, experimentation becomes faster and far more enjoyable. Now, I’m genuinely excited to build, test, and explore new generative AI solutions because the process finally feels accessible.
Coming Up Next Week
In the next episode, we’ll be exploring Fine-Tuning and Distillation with Dave Voutila. This session will focus on how to adapt Azure OpenAI models to your unique use cases and apply best practices for efficient knowledge transfer.
Register here to reserve your spot and be part of the conversation.
Join the Community
Building in AI is better when we do it together. That’s why the Azure AI Developer Community exists—to support your journey and provide resources every step of the way.
- Join the Discord for real-time discussions, events, and peer learning
- Explore the Forum to catch up on AMAs, ask questions, and connect with other developers
About Me
I’m Sharda, a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador passionate about cloud technologies and artificial intelligence. I enjoy learning, building, and helping others grow in tech. Connect with me: