Vibe Coding and Human in the Loop: Insights from Directions EMEA 2025

This year, I attended the most important Microsoft event for the first time — Directions EMEA 2025 in Poznań. Over three days (November 2–4), I dove into the world of innovative technologies alongside my supervisor, Dr. Maciej Suchomski. We attended a variety of sessions: while Dr. Suchomski focused primarily on the latest developments in the Microsoft ecosystem and talks with high operational relevance, I concentrated mainly on topics related to artificial intelligence.

The event featured over 300 sessions centered on AI agents, Copilot, and their integration with Business Central. A key highlight for me was Vibe Coding — an approach that understands programming as a dialogical process between the developer and AI. The transformation of the development process was especially evident in the session “Microsoft Presents: Vibe Coding” by Steffen Balslev and Vincent Nicolas. They demonstrated how AI agents can autonomously work in real time using linguistically formulated tasks: developers state requirements in natural language, Copilot interprets the context, generates runnable code, suggests optimizations, and manages repetitive workflows. Technologies like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) ensure agents receive precise instructions and operate reliably within the system. This creates an ecosystem of agents, Copilot features, and context protocols that reshape the way developers work. Live demos made clear how seamless the interaction between human and machine has become and how much it simplifies daily tasks. Microsoft expects that within the next two to three years, a large portion of coding could be automated, as new agents will not only generate code but also handle planning, validation, and execution processes.

Closely linked to this is the concept of “Human in the Loop” (HITL), which was intensively discussed as a guiding principle for agentic AI at Directions EMEA 2025. HITL describes the hybrid interaction where AI agents take on autonomous tasks, but humans remain active as controllers — validating critical steps, avoiding errors, and managing regulatory risks. Tools like the Agent Builder Playground in Business Central demonstrate how repetitive processes can be automated, while users make the final decisions. This approach addresses the so-called “AI Paradox”: achieving maximum efficiency through AI without relinquishing human responsibility, thus laying the foundation for safe, reliable, and ethical software development in complex workflows.

Personally, this new Microsoft ecosystem signifies a palpable shift in the developer’s role: moving away from pure coding toward orchestrating intelligent systems that combine creativity, architectural insight, and strategic problem-solving.
At the same time, new opportunities arise: increased efficiency, time savings on routine tasks, and more room for conceptual and strategic work.

Beyond AI topics, I also attended practical best-practice sessions. One particularly interesting session was “Advanced Coding for OGs: Best Practices Post-Update” by Arend-Jan Kauffmann and Eric “Waldo” Wauters. They shared 43 concise tips for AL developers in Business Central, focusing on performance, AI compatibility (e.g., for Copilot agents), and avoiding bottlenecks in real-time applications like logistics integrations. Each tip was accompanied by a short AL code snippet, an explanation, and a concrete use case — an extremely valuable toolbox for developers and ISVs.

Conclusion

In summary, Directions EMEA 2025 clearly showed me how our job as developers is changing. It’s no longer just about writing code, but designing systems and managing intelligent solutions. Tools like Vibe Coding and Copilot ease the work while maintaining responsibility for clean code. In my area, reliability and traceability remain crucial. The conversations with partners and colleagues facing the same challenges were especially valuable. The new Microsoft logo, introduced in 2025, symbolizes this transformation with flowing shapes and vibrant colors — a sign of the AI-centered and connected future that we are shaping. For me, this means: those who embrace change gain greater freedom, responsibility, and creative scope — and remain indispensable.

Maciej Krzan, PhD candidate and developer at XTRAS forward thinking

Vibe Coding and Human in the Loop: Insights from Directions EMEA 2025

Conclusion

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