Microsoft Unveils AI Shell: A New Era for Command-Line Interfaces

Microsoft has officially launched the public preview of AI Shell, an innovative tool that integrates artificial intelligence into your shell environment. With AI Shell, users can engage with a variety of advanced large language models and AI agents using natural, conversational interactions.

Key Features of AI Shell

The AI Shell comes with several noteworthy features highlighted by Microsoft, aimed at enhancing user experience:

• A dedicated command-line shell interface, known as aish.
• A comprehensive framework to facilitate the development of AI agents and support tools.
• A PowerShell module that allows for seamless integration with existing PowerShell functionalities.
• Pre-installed AI agents to provide immediate assistance and ease of use for newcomers.

Available AI Agents

This preview version of AI Shell includes two primary agents that users can select from:

Azure OpenAI Agent

According to Microsoft, the Azure OpenAI Agent serves as a general-purpose assistant. It utilizes any AI models provided by Azure OpenAI, capable of addressing a variety of inquiries, interpreting natural language, and generating code. For enhanced privacy and customization, users can connect it to their specific Azure OpenAI models. Additionally, OpenAI’s models can also be accessed.

Copilot in Azure

The Copilot in Azure agent integrates copilot capabilities directly into the command-line interface (CLI). It excels in providing cloud-centric assistance, including Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell commands, streamlining the automation of Azure-specific tasks. Users need to log in to Azure with an account that has the necessary IAM role to access this functionality.

Installation and Setup Options

For Windows users, Microsoft has released two modes to utilize AI Shell. The first option is a standalone executable, which can function independently within any shell environment. The second option is the AIShell module specifically designed for PowerShell 7, which allows users to launch AI Shell within a side pane of PowerShell 7, enabling a seamless interaction between both tools.

Quick Installation Command

To easily install AI Shell in PowerShell, simply execute the following command:

Invoke-Expression "& { $(Invoke-RestMethod 'https://aka.ms/install-aishell.ps1') }"

Getting Started

Once the installation is complete, initiate the AI Shell by typing Start-AIShell in your PowerShell environment.

For further information, visit the Microsoft developer blog.

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