Microsoft Semantic Kernel vs Agent Framework

Comprehensive comparison of Microsoft's AI orchestration frameworks (2024-2025)

🔑 Key Insight

Microsoft Agent Framework is the unified successor to both Semantic Kernel and AutoGen, created by the same teams.

Semantic Kernel

✓ Lightweight SDK for AI orchestration
✓ Strong .NET/C# support
✓ Enterprise-grade features
✓ Agent Framework GA in Q1 2025

Agent Framework

✓ Unified SDK (.NET + Python)
✓ Graph-based workflows
✓ Multi-agent orchestration
✓ Public preview (Oct 2025)

Quick Comparison Matrix

Aspect	Semantic Kernel	Agent Framework
Status	GA (v1.0+)	Public Preview
Languages	.NET, Python, Java	.NET, Python
Agent Types	Multiple types	Unified AIAgent
Orchestration	Process Framework	Graph Workflows
Dependencies	Requires Kernel	Direct creation

Architecture Comparison

Semantic Kernel Architecture

graph TB subgraph SK["Semantic Kernel"] Kernel["Kernel (Core)"] Plugins["Plugins"] Memory["Memory"] Agents["Agent Framework"] end subgraph Services["AI Services"] OpenAI["OpenAI"] Azure["Azure OpenAI"] Local["Local LLMs"] end Kernel --> Plugins Kernel --> Memory Kernel --> Agents Agents --> Services style SK fill:#1e3a8a,stroke:#60a5fa,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff style Agents fill:#059669,stroke:#34d399,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff style Services fill:#7c3aed,stroke:#a78bfa,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff

Agent Framework Architecture

graph TB subgraph AF["Agent Framework"] AIAgent["AIAgent"] Workflows["Workflows"] Tools["Tools"] Thread["AgentThread"] end subgraph Providers["Providers"] ChatClient["ChatClient"] A2A["A2A Agent"] Copilot["Copilot Studio"] Foundry["Azure AI Foundry"] end AIAgent --> Workflows AIAgent --> Tools AIAgent --> Thread AIAgent --> Providers style AF fill:#065f46,stroke:#34d399,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff style Workflows fill:#7c3aed,stroke:#c4b5fd,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff style Providers fill:#1e40af,stroke:#60a5fa,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff

Evolution Timeline

timeline title Microsoft AI Agent Frameworks Evolution 2023 : Semantic Kernel v1.0 : AutoGen Launch 2024 : SK Agent Framework Preview : Process Framework Preview Q1 2025 : SK Agent Framework GA : AutoGen + SK Convergence Q2 2025 : Process Framework GA Oct 2025 : Microsoft Agent Framework Public Preview

Migration Guide Highlights

1. Agent Creation

Semantic Kernel (.NET)

Kernel kernel = Kernel
  .AddOpenAIChatClient(modelId, apiKey)
  .Build();
ChatCompletionAgent agent = new() {
  Instructions = "...",
  Kernel = kernel
};

Agent Framework (.NET)

AIAgent agent = chatClient
  .CreateAIAgent(
    instructions: "..."
  );

2. Tool Registration

Semantic Kernel

[KernelFunction]
public string GetWeather(string loc)
{
  return $"Sunny in {loc}";
}

kernel.Plugins.Add(
  KernelPluginFactory
    .CreateFromFunctions("Weather", 
      [function])
);

Agent Framework

string GetWeather(string loc)
{
  return $"Sunny in {loc}";
}

AIAgent agent = chatClient
  .CreateAIAgent(
    tools: [AIFunctionFactory
      .Create(GetWeather)]
  );

2025 Roadmap & Key Changes

✅ Q1 2025 (Completed/In Progress)

• SK Agent Framework → GA (stable API, production-ready)
• AutoGen integration with Semantic Kernel
• Azure AI Foundry Agents Service support
• OpenAI Realtime Audio API integration

🔄 Q2 2025

• Process Framework → GA
• Enhanced memory abstractions
• VS Code extension refresh
• Declarative format support

🚀 October 2025

• Microsoft Agent Framework public preview
• Unified SDK for .NET and Python
• Graph-based workflow orchestration
• Model Context Protocol (MCP) support

Authoritative Sources

[1] Semantic Kernel Roadmap H1 2025

devblogs.microsoft.com/semantic-kernel/semantic-kernel-roadmap-h1-2025...

Published: February 3, 2025 | Confidence: High

[2] Agent Framework Overview

learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/overview/agent-framework-overview

Updated: October 9, 2025 | Confidence: High

[3] SK to Agent Framework Migration Guide

learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/migration-guide/from-semantic-kernel/

Updated: October 2025 | Confidence: High