Steve Sanderson, a developer on the .NET team at Microsoft, dives into the exciting realm of AI in application development. He discusses the practical use of the Microsoft.Extensions.AI toolset for OpenAI and oLlama, highlighting innovative AI features beyond just chat. Steve shares ideas for enhancing user experience, like dynamic UI changes and smart form suggestions. The conversation also touches on the transformative impact of AI in coding tools and the potential for .NET developers to easily integrate sophisticated AI functionalities into their projects.
AI technologies can enhance application functionality beyond chat interfaces by providing adaptive user experiences through intelligent suggestions and UI changes.
The introduction of Microsoft.Extensions.AI aims to streamline the integration of various AI functionalities in .NET, ensuring compatibility across different providers.
Challenges in AI implementation, such as context retention during user interactions, highlight the need for improved state management to enhance user experience.
Deep dives
Updates on Blazor Development
New developments in the Blazor ecosystem have been shared, focusing on a weekly series that highlights what's new in .NET 9. Additionally, the Blazor puzzle is shifting its format to foster greater engagement, allowing participants to view problems and solutions without the pressure of competition. This change aims to make the learning process more enjoyable and collaborative, moving away from the previously competitive structure. These updates signify a commitment to enhancing community interaction and keeping developers informed about the latest features.
Historical Insights from 1936
A brief overview of significant historical events from the year 1936 was provided, highlighting crucial developments like the performances by Marian Anderson and the first delivery of the B-17 bomber. It also marks the year Alan Turing submitted a groundbreaking paper on computability that has had a lasting impact on both mathematics and computer science. These historical references not only contextualize the current episode but also emphasize the continuous evolution of technology and civil rights. This reflection serves to remind listeners of the interconnection between history and the advancements in the tech world today.
AI Enhancements for Developers
The discussion shifted to AI and its growing role in aiding software development, with Steve Sanderson emphasizing the potential of AI to enhance application features for developers. He mentioned various AI tools that can streamline development processes and improve user interactions through backend implementations that operate unobtrusively. Instead of relying solely on user-input interfaces, AI can work in the background, anticipating user needs based on previous actions. This approach encourages the creation of applications that are more intuitive and efficient, benefiting both developers and end-users.
Future of .NET with AI Abstractions
An exciting new package known as Microsoft Extensions AI has been introduced, offering standard abstractions for AI features integrated into .NET applications. These abstractions aim to simplify the implementation of AI functionalities across various providers while ensuring interoperability. By working with multiple AI backend services like OpenAI and Olama, developers can easily adapt their applications without worrying about specific implementation details. This initiative reflects a broader industry trend towards building more flexible and efficient development ecosystems centered around AI capabilities.
Challenges in AI Integration
The conversation turned to the challenges of implementing AI within applications, particularly concerning maintaining context during user interactions. Developers often face difficulties when systems require constant state retention during a session, which can be detrimental to user experience. Strategies are being explored to enhance state management, ensuring users do not lose data when connectivity issues arise. This focus on improving reliability and user satisfaction signifies a proactive approach to overcoming the inherent limitations of current AI and application interactions.
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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