Everything you need to know about microsoft build 2026 kicks off today.
[ad_1]Project Solara, a new AI cloud platform, was announced at Microsoft Build.
Nadella announced Project Solara, billed as a “new chip-to-cloud platform” for AI agent devices.
Steven Bathiche, who leads Microsoft’s Applied Sciences Group, demonstrated onstage a new portable device built with Qualcomm silicon.
“It’s a turnkey solution for building unique agent-first devices,” Bathiche said, as he showed off an early prototype.
Steven Bathiche demonstrated a new AI agent access badge built using Qualcomm silicon.
“The Access Badge, built using Qualcomm silicon for wearables — this digital badge is a lightweight form factor designed for agent interactions on the go,” he said. You can unlock the badge with your fingerprint and use verbal commands to control the AI agent.
During the demo, he asked the badge to take photos for a social media post, using it to scan the crowd at the Build keynote. He asked Copilot to find some good shots from the audience scan, clean them up and send them to him and his team for review.
Microsoft is already working with AccuWeather, Best Buy, CVS Health, Levi Strauss and Target on the badge.
The other device Microsoft unveiled was a stationery-agentic AI MediaTek device, powered by Microsoft’s new Work IQ. Microsoft Work IQ provides workplace context for AI agents working in organizations, including access across Microsoft 365 — like emails, documents and meetings — and will be generally available on June 16.
Microsoft did not have a prototype of the MediaTek device on hand (which looks like those table-side payment terminals used in restaurants), and no news on when it could launch, but said it’s designed to be kept on your desk at work.
“Just walking up to the device securely signs you in, giving you direct access to your matrix … this means frictionless yet protected access to Microsoft 365 Copilot grounded in Work IQ, and with a simple glance at surfaces what matters next in your workday, helping you think, plan and even act by delegating tasks to your agents with a simple tap or just using your voice,” Bathiche said.
“Think of it as a dedicated secured agent device for work. It even supports experiences like handoff between devices, acting as a companion to your existing Windows PC, or you can even let you access your cloud PC through Windows 365 and a connective monitor.”
The stationery agentic AI MediaTek device.
The screen behind Bathiche displayed images of wearables like smart glasses and smart watches, as well as tablets and screens.
“This is the moment to imagine where your agents should live, what form they should take and what new work they can unlock,” Bathiche said.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Nadella announced Project Solara at Microsoft Build, billed as a new chip-to-cloud platform for AI agent devices.
It is a new AI agent access badge built using Qualcomm silicon for wearables. The lightweight badge is designed for agent interactions on the go: you unlock it with your fingerprint and use verbal commands to control the AI agent.
It is a desk-based agentic AI device powered by Microsoft's new Work IQ, designed to be kept at work. Walking up to it securely signs you in, giving direct access to Microsoft 365 Copilot grounded in Work IQ, and it can act as a companion to an existing Windows PC.
Microsoft Work IQ provides workplace context for AI agents across Microsoft 365, and it will be generally available on June 16.
