Artificial intelligence is becoming an important part of modern cloud applications, and Microsoft Azure provides a wide range of services for building and deploying AI solutions. For beginners who want to develop foundational AI skills on Azure, AI-901: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals is an important certification exam.
The AI-901 exam is designed for candidates who are beginning their careers in AI solution development. Microsoft currently expects candidates to have conceptual knowledge of AI solutions on Azure, foundational technical skills, familiarity with Azure resources, and knowledge of Python syntax and programming techniques.
What Is AI-901?
AI-901 is the exam associated with the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals certification.
The exam validates foundational knowledge of AI concepts and the ability to work with AI solutions on Microsoft Azure.
The current exam objectives were updated on April 15, 2026, making it important for candidates to prepare using the latest Microsoft study guide rather than older AI-900-focused material.
Who Should Take the AI-901 Exam?
AI-901 is suitable for people who are beginning their journey in AI solution development, including:
- Aspiring AI developers
- Cloud professionals
- Software developers
- Data professionals
- Students
- IT professionals
- Azure beginners
- Professionals moving into AI-related roles
Microsoft describes the intended audience as candidates at the beginning of their AI solution development careers.
AI-901 Exam Skills
According to Microsoft's current study guide, AI-901 has two major skill areas:
1. Identify AI Concepts and Capabilities — 40–45%
This area covers foundational AI concepts and responsible AI principles.
Candidates should understand areas such as:
- Artificial intelligence concepts
- Responsible AI
- AI model components and configurations
- AI workloads
- AI capabilities
2. Implement AI Solutions by Using Microsoft Foundry — 55–60%
This is currently the larger section of the exam.
Candidates should understand how AI solutions can be implemented using Microsoft Foundry, including the concepts and technologies required to build AI applications.
The current Microsoft study guide lists these two areas as the primary skills measured on AI-901.
Responsible AI
Responsible AI is an important component of the AI-901 exam.
You should understand the major responsible AI principles, including:
- Fairness
- Reliability and safety
- Privacy and security
- Inclusiveness
- Transparency
- Accountability
These principles help organizations develop AI systems that are reliable, secure, understandable, and appropriate for their intended use.
Microsoft Foundry
Microsoft Foundry is a major focus of the current AI-901 objectives.
Candidates should become familiar with the process of implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry and understand how AI applications can be developed and deployed.
Because Microsoft updated the exam in 2026, candidates should pay particular attention to the current Microsoft Foundry-related objectives when preparing for AI-901.
Python Knowledge for AI-901
Microsoft recommends that candidates have knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques.
You should be comfortable understanding basic Python concepts such as:
- Variables
- Data types
- Functions
- Lists
- Dictionaries
- Conditional statements
- Loops
- Basic programming syntax
The exam is a fundamentals-level certification, so the objective is to understand the technical concepts needed to work with AI solutions rather than become an advanced Python developer.
How to Prepare for AI-901
1. Follow the Latest Microsoft Study Guide
Start with the official AI-901 study guide and focus on the objectives applicable to the current exam version.
The English-language exam was updated on April 15, 2026.
2. Learn AI Fundamentals
Make sure you understand basic AI terminology and concepts before moving into implementation.
Focus on:
- AI workloads
- Machine learning concepts
- Generative AI
- Computer vision
- Natural language processing
- Responsible AI
3. Practice Microsoft Foundry
Since 55–60% of the current exam focuses on implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry, practical familiarity with Foundry should be an important part of your preparation.
4. Strengthen Python Basics
Review fundamental Python syntax and programming techniques.
You do not need to become an advanced Python developer, but you should be able to understand basic code and programming concepts.
5. Practice Scenario-Based Questions
AI-901 questions may test whether you can select an appropriate AI capability or approach for a particular scenario.
When answering a question, identify:
- What the scenario requires.
- Which AI capability fits the requirement.
- Which Azure or Foundry capability addresses the need.
- Whether responsible AI considerations apply.
AI-901 Exam Tips
- Study the latest Microsoft objectives.
- Do not rely entirely on older AI-900 preparation material.
- Focus strongly on Microsoft Foundry.
- Review responsible AI principles.
- Practice basic Python.
- Understand AI terminology.
- Use Microsoft Learn resources.
- Practice scenario-based questions.
- Gain hands-on familiarity with Azure AI technologies.
- Review incorrect practice answers carefully.
Microsoft recommends training and hands-on experience before taking the exam and provides a Practice Assessment through AI Skills Navigator.
AI-901 Frequently Asked Questions
What is AI-901?
AI-901 is the exam for Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, designed to assess foundational knowledge and skills related to AI solutions on Azure.
Is AI-901 the same as AI-900?
No. AI-901 is the newer exam associated with Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals. The current AI-901 objectives were updated in April 2026 and place significant emphasis on implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry.
Is Python required for AI-901?
Microsoft states that candidates should have knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques.
What is the passing score for AI-901?
The current Microsoft documentation lists 700 as the passing score.
Does AI-901 have hands-on labs?
Microsoft's fundamentals-level exams do not contain labs or hands-on questions. Coding-related questions can still require candidates to understand or select appropriate code.
What is the most important AI-901 topic?
Based on the current weighting, implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry represents the largest exam area at 55–60%.
Is AI-901 suitable for beginners?
Yes. Microsoft describes the target audience as people at the beginning of their AI solution development careers.
AI-901 Practice Questions
Question 1
Which responsible AI principle focuses on ensuring that an AI system performs consistently and safely under expected conditions?
A. Transparency
B. Reliability and safety
C. Inclusiveness
D. Accountability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Reliability and safety focus on ensuring AI systems operate appropriately and safely.
Question 2
According to the current AI-901 exam objectives, which area represents the larger portion of the exam?
A. Identify AI concepts and capabilities
B. Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry
C. Azure networking
D. Azure storage administration
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry represents 55–60% of the current AI-901 exam.
Question 3
Which programming language knowledge does Microsoft recommend for AI-901 candidates?
A. Java only
B. C# only
C. Python syntax and programming techniques
D. JavaScript only
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Microsoft specifically states that candidates should have knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques.
Question 4
An organization wants to ensure that an AI system protects sensitive user information. Which responsible AI principle is most directly related?
A. Privacy and security
B. Inclusiveness
C. Transparency
D. Fairness
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Privacy and security address protecting information and ensuring appropriate handling of data.
Question 5
What should be a primary preparation strategy for the current AI-901 exam?
A. Study only old AI-900 questions
B. Ignore Microsoft Foundry
C. Study the latest AI-901 objectives and gain hands-on AI experience
D. Focus exclusively on Azure networking
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The current AI-901 objectives were updated in 2026, and Microsoft recommends training and hands-on experience as part of exam preparation.
Final Thoughts
The AI-901: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals exam is a strong starting point for professionals beginning their journey into AI development on Azure.
The current exam is especially important for candidates to understand because its objectives were updated in April 2026. The two major areas are AI concepts and capabilities and implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry, with Microsoft Foundry representing the larger portion of the exam.
For effective preparation, focus on the latest Microsoft objectives, responsible AI principles, Microsoft Foundry, foundational Python knowledge, and practical AI scenarios.
Written By:Tannu Singh
Published on: 07/09/2026
Checkout more latest blogs here -blogs