Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0: Semantic Kernel + AutoGen Unified — What AI Developers Need to Know

Microsoft just released Agent Framework 1.0 — a unified platform that merges Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a single, production-ready multi-agent orchestration layer. For context: Semantic Kernel was Microsoft's LLM integration SDK (memory, plugins, planners) and AutoGen was Microsoft Research's multi-agent conversation framework (agent roles, group chats, code execution). They were two separate projects solving overlapping problems with incompatible abstractions. Agent Framework 1.0 combines them into one coherent architecture: Semantic Kernel's production-hardened SDK foundation with AutoGen's powerful multi-agent conversation model on top. The result is the most complete enterprise-grade multi-agent framework available in 2026 — and a direct challenge to LangChain, LangGraph, and CrewAI in the orchestration layer market. Here's what it is, what changed, and whether you should use it.