python-1.20.0
Microsoft Agent Framework 1.20.0 introduces native computer-use capabilities, new vector-store connectors, and response-stream controls, alongside breaking redesigns to Foundry hosting, declarative workflows, and Gemini configuration.
Why this signal matters
Microsoft has released version 1.20.0 of the Microsoft Agent Framework for Python. This update includes several breaking changes across hosting, declarative workflows, and model integration layers. agent-framework-foundry-hosting was redesigned around request-scoped agent factories, persistent sandbox-isolated sessions, parsed durable Invocations runs, and configurable Responses options. In agent-framework-core , approval and MCP runtime handling were hardened: local approvals now require session backing, fail closed when bindings are unresolved, and apply MCP security labels before dynamically discovered tools become callable. agent-framework-gemini introduces breaking changes to adopt the GOOGLE settings namespace and integrate Gemini Embedding 2. New features include native computer-use support for Responses clients and Foundry embeddings, native vector-store connectors for DuckDB and SQL Server, the TypeSafe AI connector, response-stream gates, and session-scoped file-access isolation. The release also improves dependency resolution for Python 3.15 and msgspec 0.22, while noting redisvl-imposed limits of Python <3.15 on agent-framework-redis .
Actionable summary
Microsoft Agent Framework 1.20.0 brings breaking updates to agent-framework-foundry-hosting (request-scoped factories, persistent sandbox-isolated sessions), agent-framework-declarative (state lookup and PowerFx bounding), and agent-framework-gemini (Gemini Embedding 2 support via GOOGLE settings namespace). It also adds native computer-use support in Responses clients and Foundry project embeddings, response-stream…
- Agent usefulness
- 94/100
- Confidence
- 96%
- Canonical data
- JSON + Markdown
What builders should check
- Migrate Foundry hosting implementations to use request-scoped agent factories and persistent sandbox-isolated session structures.
- Update declarative workflow definitions to account for aligned workflow state attribute lookups and bounded PowerFx state construction.
- Update Gemini integrations to use the GOOGLE settings namespace and adjust for Gemini Embedding 2 options.
- Review tool approval logic in agent-framework-core to ensure session-backed local approvals exist and fail-closed behaviors do not disrupt valid workflows.