DevExpress AI-powered Extensions for WinForms

• Jul 08, 2025
• 8 minutes to read

Supported AI Clients

• OpenAI
• Azure OpenAI
• Semantic Kernel
• Ollama (self-hosted models)

Prerequisites

• .NET 8 SDK / .NET Framework v4.7.2
• OpenAI
  • An active Open AI subscription
  • OpenAI API key
  • OpenAI .NET SDK (Version=”2.2.0-beta.4”)
  • Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI (Version=”9.5.0-preview.1.25265.7”)
• Azure OpenAI
  • An active Azure subscription
  • Azure Open AI Service resource
  • Azure OpenAI .NET SDK (Version=”2.2.0-beta.4”)
  • Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI (Version=”9.5.0-preview.1.25265.7”)
• Semantic Kernel
  • Microsoft.SemanticKernel
  • An active account/subscription to the AI service of your choice
  • Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Connectors.* NuGet package (a connector to the AI service of your choice)
• Ollama (self-hosted models)
  • Download and install Ollama
  • Download and install an Ollama model
  • OllamaSharp

DevExpress.AIIntegration assemblies reference the following versions of Microsoft.Extensions.AI.* NuGet packages:

Package Name	v25.1
Microsoft.Extensions.AI	9.5.0
Microsoft.Extensions.AI.Abstractions	9.5.0
Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI	9.5.0-preview.1.25265.7

See the following breaking change advisory for more information: DevExpress.AIIntegration references stable versions of Microsoft AI packages.

Install DevExpress NuGet Packages

Install the following DevExpress NuGet Packages:

1. DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms
2. DevExpress.AIIntegration.OpenAI (required if you use the WinForms Chat control with OpenAI.Assistant)
3. DevExpress.Win.Design (enables design-time features for DevExpress UI controls)

Register AI Clients

DevExpress AI-powered extensions operate within an AIExtensionsContainerDesktop container. This container manages all registered AI clients so that DevExpress UI controls can automatically leverage AI services.

Register OpenAI Client

The following code snippet registers an OpenAI client:

C#

using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        IChatClient openAIChatClient = new OpenAI.OpenAIClient(OpenAIKey).GetChatClient(Model)
            .AsIChatClient();
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(openAIChatClient);
        // Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        // you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        // DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
    static string OpenAIKey { get { return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("OPENAI_API_KEY"); } }
    static string Model { get { return "gpt-4o-mini"; } }
}

VB.NET

Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration

Friend Module Program
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        Application.EnableVisualStyles()
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(False)
        Dim openAIChatClient As IChatClient = New OpenAI.OpenAIClient(OpenAIKey).GetChatClient(Model).AsIChatClient()
            AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(openAIChatClient)
        ' Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        ' you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        ' DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
    Private ReadOnly Property OpenAIKey() As String
        Get
            Return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("OPENAI_API_KEY")
        End Get
    End Property
    Private ReadOnly Property Model As String
    Get
        Return "gpt-4o-mini"
    End Get
End Property
End Module

Register Azure OpenAI Client

The following code snippet registers an Azure OpenAI client:

C#

using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        IChatClient azureChatClient = new Azure.AI.OpenAI.AzureOpenAIClient(new Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint),
        new System.ClientModel.ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey))
        .GetChatClient(ModelId).AsIChatClient();

        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(azureChatClient);
        // Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        // you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        // DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
    static string AzureOpenAIEndpoint { get { return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"); } }
    static string AzureOpenAIKey { get { return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY"); } }
    static string ModelId { get { return "gpt-4o-mini"; } }
}

VB.NET

Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration

Friend Module Program
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        Application.EnableVisualStyles()
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(False)
        Dim azureChatClient As IChatClient = New Azure.AI.OpenAI.AzureOpenAIClient(New Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint),
            New System.ClientModel.ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey)).
            GetChatClient(ModelId).AsIChatClient()

        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(azureChatClient)
        ' Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        ' you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        ' DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub

    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIEndpoint As String
        Get
            Return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT")
        End Get
    End Property

    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIKey As String
        Get
            Return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY")
        End Get
    End Property

    Private ReadOnly Property ModelId As String
        Get
            Return "gpt-4o-mini"
        End Get
    End Property
End Module

Register Semantic Kernel

Install the connector package for the AI service. This example uses Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Connectors.Google.

C#

using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using Microsoft.SemanticKernel;
using Microsoft.SemanticKernel.ChatCompletion;
using Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Connectors.Google;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        var builder = Kernel.CreateBuilder().AddGoogleAIGeminiChatCompletion("YOUR_MODEL_ID", "YOUR_API_KEY", GoogleAIVersion.V1_Beta);
        Kernel kernel = builder.Build();
        IChatClient googleChatClient = kernel.GetRequiredService<IChatCompletionService>().AsChatClient();
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(googleChatClient);
        // Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        // you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        // DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

VB.NET

Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports Microsoft.SemanticKernel
Imports Microsoft.SemanticKernel.ChatCompletion
Imports Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Connectors.Google
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration;

Friend Module Program
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        Application.EnableVisualStyles()
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(False)
        Dim builder = Kernel.CreateBuilder().AddGoogleAIGeminiChatCompletion("YOUR_MODEL_ID", "YOUR_API_KEY", GoogleAIVersion.V1_Beta)
        Dim kernel As Kernel = builder.Build()
        Dim googleChatClient As IChatClient = kernel.GetRequiredService(Of IChatCompletionService)().AsChatClient()
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(googleChatClient)

        ' Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        ' you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        ' DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
End Module

Register Ollama Client

The following code snippet registers an Ollama client:

C#

using OllamaSharp;
using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
        IChatClient asChatClient = new OllamaApiClient(new Uri("http://localhost:11434/"), "MODEL_NAME");
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(asChatClient);
        // Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        // you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        // DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

VB.NET

Imports OllamaSharp
Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration

Friend Module Program
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        Application.EnableVisualStyles()
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(False)
        Dim asChatClient As IChatClient = New OllamaApiClient(New Uri("http://localhost:11434/"), "MODEL_NAME")
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(asChatClient)

        ' Uncomment the following line if your project targets the .NET Framework and
        ' you create AI-powered behaviors in code.
        ' DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
End Module

AI-powered Extensions

AI Assistant (Text Transform)

AI Assistant extensions allow you to enhance the way your users interact with and manage text content with AI-powered precision. These extensions leverage advanced natural language processing (NLP) technologies to provide automated, intelligent text manipulation capabilities directly within your Windows Forms applications.

Run Demo

AI-powered options include:

• Change Style
• Change Tone
• Expand
• Explain
• Proofread
• Shorten
• Summarize
• Translate
• Ask AI Assistant (allows users to interact with an AI-powered assistant directly within your application)

Applies to:

• MemoEdit
• Rich Text Editor
• Spreadsheet
• PDF Viewer

See the following help topic for additional information: AI Assistant Extensions.

Explain Formula

The AI-powered “Explain Formula” extension generates a detailed explanation of the formula used in a worksheet cell in the DevExpress Spreadsheet control.

Run Demo

See the following help topic for additional information: Explain Formula.

Generate Image Description

The AI-powered “Generate Image Description” extension generates the description for the image in DevExpress WinForms Spreadsheet and Rich Text Edit controls.

Play the following animation to see how the AI-powered “Generate Image Description” extension in a WinForms Rich Text Editor generates Alt text for an image:

Run Demo

See the following help topic for additional information: Generate Image Description.

Smart Autocomplete

The AI-powered “Smart Autocomplete” feature intelligently predicts and suggests words or phrases based on the user’s current input. As you type, the AI model analyzes the context of the text and makes relevant suggestions in real time.

Run Demo

Applies to:

MemoEdit

See the following help topic for additional information: Smart Autocomplete.

Smart Paste

“SmartPaste” is an AI-powered feature that transforms the traditional copy-and-paste process into a smarter, more efficient tool. Designed to improve productivity, SmartPaste analyzes the content you copy and intelligently assigns the right values to the appropriate fields or row cells in the DevExpress Data Grid and LayoutControl-driven forms.

Play the following animation to see how “SmartPaste” works:

Run Demo

Applies to:

• Data Grid
• Layout Control
• Data Layout Control

See the following help topic for additional information: Smart Paste.

Smart Search

“Smart Search” works alongside the traditional search algorithms to offer a more powerful and user-friendly search experience. It offers results that are more aligned with what the user is seeking, even if the input contains misspellings.

Play the following animation to see how AI-powered smart search works in the DevExpress WinForms Ribbon control:

Run Demo

Applies to:

• Ribbon Control
• Accordion Control

See the following help topic for additional information: Smart Search.

Semantic Search

Semantic search enables users to locate relevant data quickly and accurately within large datasets. Unlike standard keyword-based search, semantic search leverages Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyze search queries beyond exact keyword matching.

Semantic search uses an embedding generator to convert text into numerical vector representations. Vectors are stored in a vector database. When a user enters a search query, the search engine computes similarity scores between the query vector and stored data vectors to return the most relevant results.

Run Demo: Semantic Search - Grid Control

Applies to:

• Data Grid
• Grid Lookup
• Search Lookup

See the following help topic for additional information: Semantic Search.

Custom Extensions

You can create custom extensions based on DevExpress AI-powered extensions. See the following help topic for additional information and examples: Create Custom AI-powered Extensions.

Run Demo

AI Chat Control

Note

The AI Chat Control leverages BlazorWebView to reuse the DevExpress Blazor AI Chat component (DxAIChat). To use the WinForms AI Chat Control you must have one of the following active subscriptions: Universal, DXperience, ASP.NET & Blazor.

The AI Chat Control (AIChatControl) allows you to incorporate an interactive, Copilot-inspired chat-based UI within your WinForms application. The DevExpress AI Chat Control (AIChatControl) can only be used in Windows Forms applications that target the .NET 8+ framework.

Features include:

• Integrate seamlessly with AI services
• Render Markdown messages
• Copy and regenerate responses
• Manually handle chat messages
• Create an Assistant that chats based on your data
• Save and load chat history
• Response streaming
• DevExpress Skins

See the following help topic for additional information: AI Chat Control.

See Also

• Customize DevExpress AI-powered Extensions
• Error Logging and Handling
• Track Token Usage