Microsoft is making one of the most aggressive internal engineering transitions in the history of Windows. The company is building a dedicated team focused on reducing and eventually replacing large portions of C and C++ code, translating legacy systems into Rust with the help of artificial intelligence, and embedding memory-safe development practices deep into Windows 11.
This is not some experiment in language or a partial transfer factor. It is a structural response to decades of security lessons, modern realities of threats and the ever-increasing cost of maintaining one of the largest software platforms in the world. If successful, such an effort will transform not only Windows as a whole, but the way that large-scale operating systems are secured in the future.
Why Microsoft Is Finally Moving Beyond C and C++
C and C++ have powered Windows since its earliest releases. They had direct hardware access, very predictable performance and previously unparalleled flexibility. Those were the strengths that made Windows possible at global scale.
They also introduced a permanent trade off. Manual memory management gives the developer power, but at the same time it opens up space for errors that the compiler is not able to avoid. Over time, as Windows became tens of millions of lines of code, those errors became one of the weaknesses of the platform.
Microsoft has always tried to keep this risk under control with such mitigations as address space layout randomization, control flow enforcement, sandboxing and massive amounts of static analysis. While these defenses which do work operate under the assumption that unsafe code already exists.
The current shift of the company recognizes a tough fact. Preventing memory vulnerabilities is much better than detection and patching them after release.
Readers who are interested in the way Microsoft used to approach this problem can take a look at our detailed breakdown of the evolution of Windows security architecture.
Memory Safety Is No Longer Optional
Internal Microsoft data and independent security research always bear this out – memory safety issues have been the majority of serious Windows vulnerabilities. These bugs are still attractive to the attacker since they often provide the means to deep system compromise.
This reality has pushed Microsoft toward a prevention first security model. Rather than trusting developers to manually avoid problematic patterns, the company is more increasingly taking the option to use technologies that ensure safe behavior by default.
This aligns with broader guidance from security agencies and enterprise risk frameworks that now explicitly recommend memory-safe languages for critical systems software. The Microsoft Security Response Center has discussed these trends publicly on the official Microsoft Security blog.
Why Rust Is a Better Fit to Microsoft’s Strategy Than Any Alternative
Rust provides a rare combination of properties that fit in close together with the requirements of Windows. It delivers low-level control and predictable performance comparable to C and C++, while enforcing strict memory safety rules at compile time.
One of the benefits of Rust’s ownership model is that it eliminates entire classes of bugs like use after free and data races before code was ever shipped. For a platform with this wide spread use, like Windows, that is a transformative difference.
There is already validation of Rust in production by Microsoft. The language is utilized in certain sections of the Azure infrastructure and security-focused services and selected Windows components. What has changed is intent. Rust is no longer a niche tool. It is becoming a strategic stake.
For readers new to the language, the official Rust programming language documentation explains why Rust has gained trust in safety-critical environments.
Why AI Is Central to Replacing C++ at Windows Scale
The scope of Windows makes manual migration unreal. Decades of legacy code containing undocumented behaviour, tight coupling to hardware and assuming that long before there was even a concept of modern security models.
This is where artificial intelligence comes in handy.
Microsoft is using AI systems trained on large volumes of systems code to analyze existing C and C++ components and generate equivalent Rust implementations. These systems do not merely perform a conversion of syntax. They make inferences by about who owning what and try to find ways of unsafely establishing unsafe patterns and restructuring logic to fall within the safety guarantees of Rust.
Human engineers continue to play an active role. AI fastens the analysis and translation process whereas experienced developers review, test and optimize the generated code. This hybrid approach helps Microsoft to modernize the code that would otherwise be left untouched.
This effort builds on Microsoft’s bigger investment in AI-assisted development, for example, GitHub Copilot. We have already discussed this ecosystem in our reporting of AI-powered coding tools.
Rust is having an increasingly growing role inside Windows 11
Windows 11 is a clear change of direction. Rust is now a supported systems language as opposed to an experimental option.
Microsoft is focusing on certain components based on the fact that they have a history of security exposure, especially if they involve processing untrusted input or if they run close to the kernel. The result of any successful migration is the reduction of the total attack surface without destabilizing the operating system.
This incremental approach is similar to what other big platforms have done, and means that Microsoft will be able to measure security improvements without compromising compatibility.
or a wider view of the changes in architecture in the operating system, see our analysis of Windows 11 core updates.
What This Shift Means for Developers
For the developers, Microsoft’s direction is clear.
Rust skills are attracting much more demand especially for engineers who are working with low level Windows components, drivers, and security-critical software. Developers who understand both legacy C++ systems and modern Rust patterns will be especially sought after.
C++ remains supported and widely used, but its role is narrowing. Over time, the Rust language is likely to take on an increasing amount of new low-level development work in which safety guarantees are most important.
For teams of Rust-based code maintainers the benefits are practical ones. Less critical bugs, more defined ownership models and more predictable maintenance cycles.
The Challenges Microsoft is Yet Facing
There is no riskless way to modernize Windows. Some of the legacy components depend on some subtle behavior that has to be preserved exactly. Translating these safely requires a lot of testing and knowledge of their institutions.
Performance is a must-have requirement. While Rust can match C++ performance, achieving that parity in every scenario requires careful engineering.
Tooling and ecosystem support is continuing to mature, particularly for Windows specific workflows. Microsoft’s measured pace implies that the company is putting correctness over speed.
A Broader Industry Signal
Microsoft’s decision to replace C++ with Rust using AI sends a powerful message. When one of the largest software platforms in the world pledges itself to secure systems programming with memory safety, it provides validation for years of security research and advocacy in the industry.
This move is sure to speed up the adoption of Rust in enterprise software, the cloud infrastructure, as well as in critical systems. It also raises expectations for other vendors which are still relying on memory-unsafe code to a large degree.
The industry is beginning to realize that performance is no longer sufficient. Security and the ability to maintain it over time are now just as critical.
What Comes Next for Windows and Rust
All indications are that Rust is going to be expanding within Microsoft’s core platforms. With the executive support, AI-assisted migration and obvious security benefits, the language is in a good position to shape the future of Windows development.
C and C++ will remain part of the ecosystem for years, but their dominance is steadily declining. Windows 11 will be remembered as possibly the moment when Microsoft started to rebuild its foundation for the next generation of computing.
Final Analysis
Microsoft’s effort to replace C and C++ with Rust using AI is not a routine modernization project. It is a strategic reset based on difficult lessons in security and the realities of the modern world.
When it comes to memory safety, Microsoft is therefore opting for prevention rather than reaction. As Windows develops and changes, Rust is trending away from the margins and towards the center.
For developers, enterprises, and the technology industry as a whole, this shift is an obvious indicator. The future of systems software is being rewritten, and Microsoft plans to take the lead in that direction.
