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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Microsoft Build 2024 was held May 21–23, 2024, in Seattle, Washington, with free online participation promoted worldwide. It was Microsoft’s flagship developer conference, focused on using artificial intelligence, Copilot, Azure, data platforms and developer tools to build software. The event has ended, so this is a retrospective rather than a current registration notice.
Microsoft Build 2024 at a glance
| Detail | What Microsoft announced or reported |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 21–23, 2024 |
| In-person location | Seattle, Washington |
| Digital participation | Online access, including streamed and on-demand content |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Audience | Developers, engineers, architects, IT professionals and technical decision-makers |
| Opening keynote | May 21, 2024, 9:00–11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time |
| Scale reported by Microsoft | About 200,000 registered participants, approximately 4,000 in Seattle, and more than 300 sessions, demonstrations and expert- or instructor-led labs |
Microsoft’s original event announcement described the Seattle-and-online format and developer focus in its February 2024 announcement. The attendance and programming figures were reported after the event by Microsoft, not independently audited.
What Build 2024 was designed to cover
Build was not primarily a consumer hardware launch. Its central question was how developers could create, deploy and operate intelligent applications across Microsoft’s ecosystem. The major themes were:
- Microsoft Copilot and the broader Copilot technology stack.
- GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted software development.
- Azure AI, Azure OpenAI Service and cloud infrastructure for AI applications.
- Microsoft Fabric and data-in-motion scenarios.
- Multimodal and other frontier AI models.
- Security, governance and responsible development of cloud-based AI.
- Windows AI and the developer implications of Copilot+ PCs.
That emphasis made Build most relevant to people already working with Azure, .NET, Visual Studio, GitHub, Fabric, Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Copilot or Windows application development. A reader seeking only consumer-device news would find much of the program considerably more technical.
#1 Best Overall
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
Key announcements and developer implications
Microsoft’s Build 2024 Book of News catalogued approximately 60 product and solution announcements. That total included releases, previews, demonstrations, partnerships and roadmap items; it does not mean 60 finished products became generally available at the event.
AI models and application development
Microsoft highlighted multimodal experiences that could work with text, images, video and other data types. For developers, the significance was a move beyond simple text prompt-and-response interfaces toward applications that combine different forms of input and output. Availability and preview status varied by feature, so an announcement should not be read as a promise of immediate general availability.
Azure as the application foundation
Azure was presented as the layer for accessing models, building applications, connecting data, adding security controls and scaling workloads. “Azure AI” therefore covered several distinct capabilities rather than one product: model access, developer tooling, data services and underlying cloud infrastructure.
Rank #2
- With 16 GB of memory, runs as many programs as you want without losing the execution
- The 13.5" 2256 x 1504 screen provides a great movie watching experience
- 512 GB SSD is enough to store your essential documents and files, favorite songs, movies and pictures
- 8 Hours battery run time helps you stay unwired and work longer non-stop
Microsoft Fabric and data in motion
Microsoft positioned Fabric around integrating and working with “data in motion” for intelligent applications. The message concerned streaming, real-time and moving-data scenarios as well as analytics, rather than a conventional database announcement alone.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCopilot, extensibility and GitHub Copilot
Build coverage separated Microsoft’s own end-user Copilot products from the tools developers could use to create custom copilots. Enterprise concerns included identity, permissions, data boundaries, security and governance.
Microsoft said GitHub Copilot had reached 1.8 million paid subscribers as of May 21, 2024. That is a historical, Microsoft-reported figure and should not be treated as a current 2026 user count.
Rank #3
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 13.8" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 20 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- THE PORTS YOU NEED — Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
Windows and Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft introduced the Copilot+ PC category on May 20, 2024, immediately before Build. The hardware announcement was part of the surrounding news cycle and connected Windows devices with local or edge AI experiences, but it was not first announced as a Build opening-day product reveal. Microsoft’s Surface guidance provides that timing and context.
Education and Khanmigo
Microsoft announced access to Azure AI-optimized infrastructure to expand Khanmigo for Teachers, powered by Azure OpenAI Service. This was an infrastructure and partnership announcement; it did not mean Microsoft owned Khan Academy’s product.
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Keynote speakers and schedule
Microsoft’s event materials listed Satya Nadella, Rajesh Jha, Kevin Scott and Mustafa Suleyman among the leaders associated with the opening keynote and event preview. The Identity team’s Build preview identified the announced speaker lineup, while the Visual Studio schedule listed the keynote for Tuesday, May 21, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. PDT.
Rank #4
- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 15" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 19 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 19 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports and a microSD card reader for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
Those were archived event details, not a current livestream schedule, and the speaker listing should not be interpreted as proof that each executive delivered an identical portion of the keynote.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Online versus in-person participation
What online attendees could do
- Watch keynotes and streamed sessions.
- Register for digital participation without traveling to Seattle.
- Use much of the event’s technical material on demand after the live program.
- Follow product announcements and demonstrations that Microsoft made available digitally.
Microsoft promoted free online participation, but “free online” did not mean every in-person benefit was replicated virtually.
What required Seattle attendance
- Hands-on labs and some instructor-led activities.
- In-person networking and direct access to experts and partners.
- Community programming and selected demonstrations.
Microsoft specifically noted that some Visual Studio demonstrations were in-person only and would not be recorded. The Microsoft Learn guidance also described activities available through the in-person hub. Registration and capacity limitations applied to physical attendance.
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Best Value
- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
What actually happened at Build 2024
After the conference, Microsoft described Build 2024 as a hybrid event with about 200,000 registered participants, roughly 4,000 people attending in Seattle and more than 300 sessions, demonstrations and expert- or instructor-led labs. Microsoft also said most content would become available on demand. The company’s event recap framed the conference as an expansion of AI tools for developers.
These figures describe the 2024 event specifically. They should not be mixed with later Build editions, current product availability or current subscriber totals.
How to interpret Build announcements
- Announced: Microsoft publicly described a product or capability, which may still have required a later release.
- Previewed: A feature was available to a limited audience or under preview terms.
- Demonstrated: Microsoft showed a scenario without establishing broad customer availability.
- Made available: Microsoft indicated a release or access milestone, though licensing, region and service requirements could still apply.
The safest way to evaluate a specific Build feature is to check its individual Microsoft product documentation and release status rather than infer general availability from the conference announcement.
Quick Recap
Timeline
- May 20, 2024: Microsoft introduced Copilot+ PCs ahead of the conference.
- May 21, 2024: Build opened with the keynote scheduled for 9:00–11:00 a.m. PDT.
- May 21–23, 2024: Technical sessions, labs, demonstrations, networking and announcements took place in the hybrid program.
- After the event: Microsoft made most, but not necessarily all, content available on demand.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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