Microsoft replaced the AI-900 with the AI-901 in the 2026 refresh of Azure AI Fundamentals. The headline change: the AI-901 now spends 55 to 60% of the exam on hands-on building with Microsoft Foundry, where the AI-900 was almost entirely “describe the concept.” If you are deciding which to take, take the AI-901. It is the current exam, and its skills were last updated on 15 April 2026.
AI-900 vs AI-901 at a glance
| AI-900 (retiring) | AI-901 (current, 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Describe AI concepts | Describe and build AI solutions |
| Hands-on building | None | 55-60%, using Microsoft Foundry |
| Coding | Not needed | Expects basic Python plus SDK/REST/CLI familiarity |
| Pass mark | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Level | Fundamentals, no prerequisites | Fundamentals, no prerequisites |
What actually changed?
- The concepts stayed, now worth about 40 to 45%: responsible AI, AI model basics, and the common AI workloads (vision, speech, text, generative and agentic AI).
- A large new implementation half appeared, worth 55 to 60%: deploy a model in the Microsoft Foundry portal, build a chat client with the Foundry SDK, create an agent, and extract information with Azure Content Understanding.
- The bar for “fundamentals” rose. Microsoft’s audience profile now expects “knowledge of Python coding syntax” and familiarity with “REST APIs, SDKs, and CLIs.” Source: the official AI-901 study guide.
For the full breakdown, see what’s on the AI-901 exam.
Should you wait for it to “settle”?
No. The AI-901 is the current version of Azure AI Fundamentals, so studying for the older AI-900 means revising material the current exam no longer matches. If you have not booked yet, prepare for the AI-901.
I already studied for the AI-900. Is that wasted?
No. Your concepts revision still counts for roughly 40 to 45% of the AI-901. What you need to add is the hands-on half: spend time in the Microsoft Foundry portal and SDK so the implementation tasks feel familiar rather than theoretical. If you are weighing the effort, see how hard the AI-901 really is.
Where to check the official details
- Official AI-901 exam page for booking and current pricing.
- Official AI-901 study guide for the full skills outline.
Practise the current exam, not the old one
PassTheVoid is written to the current April 2026 AI-901 skills, including the Microsoft Foundry implementation half, so you are not drilling outdated AI-900 material. You get a free timed mock, a per-domain breakdown, and offline study, free and ad-free, with a one-time Pro unlock for the full bank.