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Semantic Kernel: what’s new in python-1.45.0 and our verdict

Microsoft's model-agnostic SDK for building AI agents; its README calls Microsoft Agent Framework the enterprise-ready successor.

Official site

Release Ruler for Semantic Kernel: marked at its Reported release date on the timeline of every AI model we track.

At a glance

Evidence
Reported
Released
Oct 6, 2026
Last verified
Oct 25, 2026
Pricing
Official page, dated
Best for
agent building

Evidence and ranking

Evidence behind this verdict

  1. Sources read1 cited source, latest fetched Oct 25, 2026. (done)
  2. Facts re-checkedLast verified Oct 25, 2026. (done)
  3. Not run by us yetWe have not run it, so this is labelled Reported. (not done)

Partly worked Test log result: Partly worked. Read the log

Where we rank it (editorial)

Listed here but not yet ranked. Ranks are editorial picks, not benchmark scores.

Pricing: Open-source library; costs come from the model APIs you call. (checked 2026-10-25)

Our verdict

Microsoft's model-agnostic SDK for building AI agents; its README calls Microsoft Agent Framework the enterprise-ready successor.

Good for

  • Existing .NET and Azure shops already on Semantic Kernel

Skip if

  • You are starting new agent work and want Microsoft's recommended path (Agent Framework)

Status: Reported. This write-up is based on official release notes and docs; we have not run this release ourselves yet.

Full test log with exact commands, versions and raw output: Semantic Kernel 1.45.0: our test log.

Best for

Key facts

The Semantic Kernel README says Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF) is the enterprise-ready successor and is at version 1.0 with stable APIs. The repository is still MIT-licensed and active, with python-1.45.0 released Oct 6, 2026.

  • License: MIT (per GitHub)
  • Platforms: .NET, Python and Java
  • Pricing model: Free and open source
  • Free tier: Free to self-host
  • Paid plans: None listed for the library
  • GitHub: microsoft/semantic-kernel: 28,695 stars on 2026-10-25, last push 2026-10-23
  • Latest release we saw: python-1.45.0, 2026-10-06
  • How to start: Install the Semantic Kernel package for your language and follow the README; check the Agent Framework page for new projects.
  • python-1.45.0 (2026-10-06): the newest release listed on the official page or repository when we read it on 2026-10-25.

How to set it up: Get started with Semantic Kernel

These steps come from the vendor's own pages as read on 2026-10-25. We tried Semantic Kernel on 2026-10-25; it only partly worked in our test (see /tests/semantic-kernel), so it is not marked Tested.

  1. Get access

    Install the Semantic Kernel package for your language and follow the README; check the Agent Framework page for new projects.

  2. Check the limits and costs first

    Free to self-host. Open-source library; costs come from the model APIs you call.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • MIT license
  • Multi-language

Cons

  • Successor product exists
  • Our own run only partly worked: Semantic Kernel 1.45.0 returned an empty reply with our standard prompt (0 of 3) but worked once the prompt used its plugin-prefixed tool name (3 of 3); a naming trap with small models. See /tests/semantic-kernel

Alternatives and comparisons

  • AutoGen: Microsoft's open-source multi-agent framework; its README now says the project is in maintenance mode and points to Microsoft Agent Framework.
  • LangChain: Open-source framework for building LLM applications and agents in Python and JavaScript, from the team behind LangGraph and LangSmith.
  • LlamaIndex: Open-source data framework for retrieval-augmented generation and document-centred agents, with a hosted document platform alongside.
  • Langflow: MIT-licensed visual builder for AI agents and MCP servers with a very large GitHub following.

See all alternatives to Semantic Kernel

FAQ

What is Semantic Kernel?

The Semantic Kernel README says Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF) is the enterprise-ready successor and is at version 1.0 with stable APIs. The repository is still MIT-licensed and active, with python-1.45.0 released Oct 6, 2026.

Is Semantic Kernel free?

Free to self-host. Open-source library; costs come from the model APIs you call. Checked 2026-10-25; prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page.

What license is Semantic Kernel under?

Its license: MIT (per GitHub). Read from the project's own pages on 2026-10-25.

What we have not verified

  • Migration timeline
  • Anything beyond the attempt in /tests/semantic-kernel: we ran it once on a local 3B model and it did not complete our task, so it stays Reported

Sources

Last verified · Agentic Weekly

  • Langflow: MIT-licensed visual builder for AI agents and MCP servers with a very large GitHub following.
  • Botpress: Customer-support AI agent platform with a free plan and conversation-based paid plans.
  • Gumloop: Agent builder for teams; plans start at $37 per month with 20k included credits.

How to cite this page

Agentic Weekly, "Semantic Kernel python-1.45.0: what's new, verdict & setup", last updated 2026-10-25, https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/semantic-kernel

Keep the Reported or Tested label when you quote a verdict. Plain-text version: https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/semantic-kernel.md. More for AI assistants: /ai, /tools.json, /llms.txt.