Microsoft has unveiled the second preview of its .NET AI Chat Web App template, aiming to simplify the creation of cloud-native, AI-driven chat applications. This update builds on the initial preview released earlier this year and introduces support for the .NET Aspire stack, which is designed for developing scalable, distributed applications ready for the cloud environment.
The new template, available since April 17 and downloadable from nuget.org, allows developers to rapidly build AI chat apps that can interact seamlessly with custom datasets. The integration of .NET Aspire enhances the AI capabilities of the chat applications and offers robust integration features, making it easier for developers to build sophisticated solutions without reinventing the wheel.
One notable addition in this release is support for the Qdrant vector database, accompanied by example implementations to help developers prototype and scale applications that leverage vector data. Furthermore, the template now supports more configuration options within Visual Studio Code, particularly when used alongside the C# Dev Kit extension. This makes it easier for developers to customize their projects by selecting model service providers and vector stores during setup.
Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to expand the template’s reach with upcoming releases that will include Console and Minimal API templates. They also aim to deepen integration with Azure AI Foundry and the Semantic Kernel team, broadening the tool’s AI capabilities. Ultimately, the template is expected to become a default component in the .NET SDK, streamlining AI app development for a wider range of users.