MC1124567 – (Updated) Power BI Cognitive Services and Azure Machine Learning features retiring; transition to Fabric AI services (archived)

Product:

Fabric, Power BI

Platform:

Mac, Online, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Admin impact, Retirement, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Power BI is retiring Cognitive Services and Azure Machine Learning features between August 11 and September 15, 2025. New model creation is disabled from August 11; existing models refresh until September 15, after which support ends. Users should transition to Fabric AI services and update documentation accordingly.

Details:
Updated August 14, 2025: The retirement began on August 11, 2025, and will be complete by September 15, 2025. The retirement in August will NOT impact your current models that use these services, we will still refresh and support items until September 15 when it will be deprecated. As of August 11, the ability to add new models that leverage these services has been removed.
Introduction
We're retiring Cognitive Services and Azure Machine Learning (Azure ML) features in Power BI. This change supports our investment in Microsoft Fabric, where Auto ML and other AI capabilities will continue to evolve and improve.
When this will happen
The retirement will begin on August 11, 2025, and complete by September 15, 2025. The retirement starting in August will NOT impact your current models that use these services, we will still refresh and support items until Sept 15th when it will be deprecated. In August, we will remove the ability to add new models that leverage these services.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-07-30

updated:
2025-08-15

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Retirement of Cognitive Services and Azure ML features
Users will be unable to create new models using Cognitive Services or Azure ML starting August 11, 2025, leading to potential disruption in data analysis workflows.
   - roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-science/ai-services/ai-services-overview

Removal of UI entry point for AI features
The removal of the UI entry point for these features may confuse users and hinder their ability to access necessary tools for data modeling.
   - roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-science/ai-services/ai-services-overview

Discontinuation of model refresh support
After September 15, 2025, existing models will no longer refresh, potentially leading to outdated data and insights for users relying on these models.
   - roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-science/ai-services/ai-services-overview

Need for transition to Fabric AI services
Users must transition to Fabric AI services, which may require additional training and adjustment time, impacting productivity during the transition period.
   - roles: Data Analyst, IT Support
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-science/ai-services/ai-services-overview

Internal documentation updates required
Organizations will need to update internal documentation to reflect the changes, which may lead to inconsistencies and confusion if not managed properly.
   - roles: IT Support, Documentation Specialist
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-science/ai-services/ai-services-overview

Configutation Options**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're driving a car that's about to be replaced by a newer model. The car you're using now works fine, but the manufacturer has decided to stop making parts for it and focus on a new, more advanced model. You can still drive your current car for a while, but eventually, you'll need to switch to the new model to ensure you have access to the latest features and support.

In the world of Power BI, something similar is happening. The Cognitive Services and Azure Machine Learning features are like that older car model. Starting from August 11, 2025, you won't be able to create new "cars" or models using these features. However, if you already have models running, they'll continue to function until September 15, 2025. After that date, support for these models will be discontinued, meaning you won't be able to refresh or update them.

The new "car model" in this analogy is the Fabric AI services. Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to these services because they offer improved capabilities and ongoing support. Just like learning to drive a new car, you might need to spend some time understanding how Fabric AI services work and how they can fit into your existing workflows.

To prepare for this transition, review your current dataflows to see if they rely on the soon-to-be-retired features. Then, start exploring Fabric AI services to see how they can meet your needs. Think of it as getting familiar with the features of the new car model before you make the switch.

This change will happen automatically, so there's no need for any administrative action on your part. However, it's important to communicate these changes to your team and update any internal documentation to reflect the new processes. This way, everyone will be ready to embrace the new technology when the time comes.