enterpriseai.tools
Open navigation menu

Semantic Kernel

Microsoft

Open Source

Microsoft orchestration SDK evolving into the unified Microsoft Agent Framework direction.

Curated by Tiberiu ArvaStale

MITVersion 1.45.0Released 2026-10-0628,553
DocsRepository

Strengths

  • Broad language support
  • Plugin and memory abstractions
  • Strong Microsoft ecosystem fit

Practitioner note

Natural fit for Microsoft-leaning engineering teams that want code-first orchestration with .NET and enterprise integration paths.

Warning

Semantic Kernel: Evolving into the Microsoft Agent Framework.

Where it sits in the stack

Listed under Agent frameworks in the Build & orchestrate layer.

  1. Build & orchestrate
  2. Control plane
  3. Use

Pairs with, from Microsoft

See the full Microsoft stack

Governance posture

Reviewed 2026-05-26
YesData residency

Self-hosted SDK; data residency is operator-determined.

Source
YesDeployment model

Library/SDK via package manager; no managed hosting. (self-hosted)

Source
PartialAudit logging

OpenTelemetry integration documented but operator-configured; no built-in audit log.

Source
N/ASOC 2

Self-hosted library; SOC 2 applies to the operator's infrastructure, not the package.

N/AISO 27001

Self-hosted library; ISO 27001 applies to the operator's ISMS, not the package.

N/AISO 42001

Self-hosted library; ISO 42001 applies to the deploying organisation.

N/AEU AI Act

Developer component, not an AI system placed on the market; obligations rest with the deployer. (role: not-applicable)

YesLicense risk

MIT — permissive, OSI-approved. (low)

Source

EU AI Act obligations

Risk tier: Not applicable · as of 2026-10-10

Source-backed information mapped from Semantic Kernel's tracked risk tier — not legal advice. Obligations depend on how your organisation deploys the system; see the full obligation reference and timeline.

This record's EU AI Act risk tier is marked not applicable, so no tier-specific obligations attach. Deployers embedding it in an AI system in scope of the Act should assess that system's own tier.

Change history

Source-backed and auto-detected events for this tool, newest first.

  1. Release

    Semantic Kernel python-1.45.0 removes an unsupported auth mode from the Copilot Studio agent (breaking) and hardens request validation; dotnet-1.81.0 shipped the same day.

    Release python-1.45.0 · microsoft/semantic-kernel
  2. Release

    Semantic Kernel .NET 1.78.0 updated package versions and included runtime and connector fixes.

    Release dotnet-1.78.0 · microsoft/semantic-kernel
  3. Release

    Semantic Kernel Python 1.44.0 updated dependency versions, including tornado and pyjwt bumps.

    Release python-1.44.0 · microsoft/semantic-kernel
  4. ReleaseHigh impact

    Semantic Kernel Python 1.43.1 added function_choice_behavior support to Azure AI and OpenAI Assistant agents, fixed MessagePack handling, and rejected encoded dot-segment paths in OpenAPI plugins.

    Release python-1.43.1 · microsoft/semantic-kernel
  5. Release

    Semantic Kernel Python 1.41.3 added SQL Server field and table name escaping and extended in-memory collection filter blocklists, tightening connector safety for production use.

    Release python-1.41.3 · microsoft/semantic-kernel · GitHub
  6. Release
    Semantic Kernel refreshes prompt serialization and dependencies

    Semantic Kernel's April 8 release included prompt-template serialization improvements and dependency updates, keeping Microsoft's orchestration SDK active as Agent Framework work continues.

    Releases · microsoft/semantic-kernel
  7. Auto-detected
    lastRelease: 2026-07-07 → 2026-10-06

    From snapshot diff 2026-09-13 → 2026-10-10.

  8. Auto-detected
    version: 1.44.0 → 1.45.0

    From snapshot diff 2026-09-13 → 2026-10-10.

  9. Auto-detected
    githubStars: 28413 → 28553

    From snapshot diff 2026-08-22 → 2026-09-13.

  10. Auto-detected
    githubStars: 28293 → 28413

    From snapshot diff 2026-07-17 → 2026-08-04.

  11. Auto-detected
    githubStars: 28066 → 28293

    From snapshot diff 2026-06-07 → 2026-07-17.

  12. Auto-detected
    lastRelease: 2026-05-14 → 2026-07-07

    From snapshot diff 2026-06-07 → 2026-07-17.

  13. Auto-detected
    version: 1.42.0 → 1.44.0

    From snapshot diff 2026-06-07 → 2026-07-17.

Side-by-side comparisons

See Semantic Kernel read column-by-column against the tools enterprise teams most often evaluate it against.

LangGraph vs Semantic Kernel

Open-source agent frameworks side-by-side — deployment model, license risk, governance posture, and certifications.

Explore the category

Compare this tool against the rest of its category and the cloud platform foundation layer.

AI Agent Frameworks

Return to the category grid to compare governance posture across every tracked tool.

Platforms

Review Microsoft Foundry, Amazon Bedrock, and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform as the foundation layer.

Weekly updates

Track releases, deprecations, license changes, and other market movements.