Overview of the .NET and AI ecosystem
The .NET Framework offers a wide variety of libraries and tools for developing AI applications. This article provides an overview of some services and tools you can use to integrate AI into your .NET applications. We recommend using the Semantic Kernel SDK to coordinate and simplify your interactions with various services.
Working with models
You can use .NET to access AI models built by OpenAI. This can be done via the Azure OpenAI SDK or the Semantic Kernel. These models can be hosted either by OpenAI or in the Azure cloud. The Semantic Kernel provides a simple way to work with different models without having to learn a new API each time.
NUGet package
Supported models
Maintainer / Provider
Documentation
Microsoft Semantic Kernel
OpenAI models, Azure-supported models
ecosystem
Documentation on the Semantic Kernel
Azure OpenAI SDK
Azure-supported models
ecosystem
Documentation for Azure OpenAI services
Connect your data using vector storage.
To adapt AI applications for your own data, working with vector storage is essential. Many services offer native SDKs for .NET that you can use directly. Alternatively, you can use the Semantic Kernel to try out different vector storage options without having to learn each SDK.
NUGet package
Supported vector memory
Maintainer / Provider
Documentation
Microsoft Semantic Kernel
Supported vector memory
ecosystem
What is a vector database in the Semantic Kernel?
Azure.Search.Documents
Azure AI Search
ecosystem
Azure AI Search Client Library for .NET
Milvus.Client
Milvus vector database
Milvus
Qdrant.Client
Qdrant vector database
Quadrant
More options
This article provides an overview of officially supported tools and SDKs in the .NET ecosystem. For more options and open-source resources, consult the unofficial list of .NET + AI resources. Note that Microsoft is not the maintainer of all these projects, so it's important to verify their quality, licensing, and support.
This overview is designed to help you find the right tools and services for your AI applications in .NET. If you'd like to delve deeper into the topic, we recommend reading the documentation for each SDK and service to learn more about how they work and how to use them.
You can find more information at Microsoft.com You can find them in the blog section or in a non-binding conversation with us.
