Steve Sanderson, a developer on Microsoft's .NET team, dives into how AI can revolutionize app development. He highlights the Microsoft.Extensions.AI toolset that simplifies incorporating AI into applications. Topics include utilizing AI for smarter UI interactions, offering cut-and-paste suggestions, and enhancing user experiences through dynamic changes. The discussion also touches on AI's potential for improving functionality across various applications, alongside ethical considerations and the evolution of large language models.
Steve Sanderson emphasizes the role of AI tools in enhancing both the productivity and functionality of .NET applications.
The podcast explores the integration of AI for dynamic UI changes based on user behavior, improving user interactions significantly.
Future developments in Blazor focus on improving performance and state management to benefit developers of all skill levels.
Deep dives
Updates on Blazor Train and Blazor Puzzle
The podcast discusses new developments in Blazor Train and changes to the Blazor Puzzle format. The Blazor Train series is now focusing on what's new in .NET 9, with episodes released weekly or biweekly. Meanwhile, the Blazor Puzzle will shift from a competition format to a more interactive approach, where a problem is presented, followed by a solution explanation without a winner being announced. This change aims to enhance engagement and collaboration among developers involved in solving the challenges.
Historical Reflections from 1936
A brief reflection on significant events from 1936 provides context for this episode's number. Key milestones discussed include the performance of Marian Anderson at the White House, an important moment in the civil rights movement, and the publication of John Maynard Keynes' influential work on economics. The demise of the last thylacine at a Tasmanian zoo is mentioned, underscoring the unforeseen extinction of species due to misconceptions and human actions. There's also a mention of ongoing efforts to potentially de-extinct the thylacine, as it may benefit Tasmania's ecosystem.
The Role of AI in Application Development
The conversation turns towards the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in software development, particularly its integration into .NET applications. Steve Sanderson highlights the need for AI tools to enhance productivity and functionality in software, moving beyond simple coding assistants to smart backend implementations. An example includes integrating AI for automated customer support, where AI helps classify and respond to inquiries, significantly improving efficiency. The discussion emphasizes the potential of leveraging AI capabilities to create applications with smarter, more user-friendly interactions.
Innovations in AI and User Interfaces
In discussing AI's implications for user interfaces, the concept of chat as an interface is explored, as well as the limitations that come with it. While AI can create more streamlined interfaces, there's also a strong push for AI to operate unobtrusively in the background, enhancing user experience without unnecessary interaction. Tools like GitHub Copilot are praised for their ability to provide suggestions while users work, illustrating how AI can facilitate productivity without requiring the user to articulate every need. The conversation touches upon the future of applications using AI for dynamic UI generation based on user input and historical patterns.
The Future of .NET and Blazor Development
As the podcast wraps up, the development of .NET 10 and the future of Blazor are highlighted, focusing on improving the Blazor server's performance and state management. Key improvements are aimed at providing developers with a seamless experience, especially in maintaining user state during connection interruptions. The team is actively working on ensuring that both experienced and novice developers can benefit from Blazor’s advancements without needing complex code structures. This forward-looking discussion reflects the commitment to refining developer tools and enhancing application performance as the field continues to evolve.
Can tooling make implementing AI features in your applications easier? Steve Sanderson says yes! Carl and Richard talk to Steve about the Microsoft.Extensions.AI preview toolset for OpenAI and oLlama. Steve discusses ideas around useful places for AI technologies to appear in your application, not just chat. The conversation digs into more ambient ideas, like providing suggested cut-and-paste items when entering forms and even dynamic changes to UI based on how a user interacts with the application. Want to get started? Get the extensions on NuGet!
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