Microsoft's Build 2018 Developer Conference Kicks Off Today, Here's How To Watch

If you thought Microsoft would drop into cruise control after releasing its April 2018 Update for Windows 10, think again. There is a lot going on at Redmond, especially these days as Microsoft is more focused than ever on expanding its reach into multiple market segments, such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and so forth. To see what's in store, consider tuning into the company's Build 2018 developer conference livestream today and throughout the week.

Build 2018 kicks off at 8:00am PT (11:00 am ET) and runs all through the day, and into the evening. The same goes for tomorrow and Wednesday. Looking at the schedule of events, it appears much of today will be focused on AI, with Microsoft providing an overview for developers, followed by a State of the Union regarding its AI platform. There will also be keynotes by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and "other visionaries."


We suspect Microsoft will have quite a bit to say about Azure, along with an update on how many people are using Microsoft Cloud these days and what new features and services to expect. It's also possible that Microsoft will make more open source announcements—at last year's Build conference, Microsoft added support for Linux Bash inside Windows 10 and made a series of open source plays, including Azure Cosmos DB.

It will be interesting to see if Microsoft unveils any new hardware, and whether it will have more to say on its mixed reality efforts. Not that long ago, Microsoft was heavily hyping up mixed reality in Windows 10, with several hardware partners releasing relatively affordable headsets. It's been a quiet on that front though, particularly as VR headsets have become more affordable—Oculus Rift now sells for $399, and the HTC Vive goes for $499.

If you want to check out the livestream, head over to Microsoft's Channel 9 website, and specifically here. You'll need to sign in with your Microsoft account, assuming you have one.