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Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have launched a new training program to help junior software engineers develop AI skills and gain practical experience working with AI-powered development tools.

The initiative, called Preceptorship for AI-accelerated Software Engineering (PRAISE), targets newly hired Microsoft engineers and combines graduate-level online courses with mentorship from experienced Microsoft developers.

The program aims to prepare early-career engineers for an industry where AI increasingly handles coding tasks but human expertise remains essential.

How Microsoft’s PRAISE program works

Participants take two courses per semester while continuing to gain practical engineering experience at Microsoft.

The initial courses include Machine Learning in Production, which covers integrating machine learning into real-world applications, and Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering I, which focuses on using AI tools in software development.

During the spring semester, participants take DevOps: Engineering for Secure Development and Deployment, which covers secure development practices, alongside Preceptorship in AI-Augmented Software Engineering II, which builds on their practical experience with AI-assisted software engineering.

Students who complete PRAISE can also apply for admission to a master’s degree program in software engineering at Carnegie Mellon.

Microsoft wants junior engineers to benefit from AI

The idea for PRAISE emerged after Mark Russinovich, Microsoft’s Azure CTO, visited Carnegie Mellon in October 2025.

Russinovich highlighted a growing problem in software development: experienced engineers often benefit more from AI coding tools because they already have the knowledge to evaluate generated code and identify mistakes.

Junior developers, meanwhile, need additional training to use these tools effectively without becoming overly dependent on them.

Microsoft believes AI will transform software engineering rather than eliminate the need for entry-level developers. The company continues to emphasize human judgment, technical knowledge, and accountability.

Carnegie Mellon professor Jonathan Aldrich, who directs PRAISE, hopes the initiative will provide a training model that other technology companies can adopt.

The program arrives as Microsoft expands AI into more specialized professions. The company recently introduced Copilot for Legal for lawyers and legal teams and made Copilot four times faster while reducing token usage by 30%.

AI safety also remains a concern across the industry, with Anthropic restricting AI internet access after models targeted government websites.

Via Neowin