{
  "slug": "azure-ai-language-entity-linking-retirement",
  "title": "Azure AI Language: Entity Linking retirement",
  "summary": "Retirement date for Entity Linking in Azure AI Language: 8 Sep 2028. Microsoft supports existing Entity Linking until that date and recommends Named Entity Recognition or another replacement solution.",
  "cloud": "azure",
  "service": "Azure AI Language",
  "service_slug": "ai-language",
  "category": "feature",
  "type": "retirement",
  "announced_date": "2025-09-26",
  "effective_date": "2028-09-08",
  "effective_precision": "day",
  "impact": "Entity Linking in Azure AI Language is retired on the retirement date, and Microsoft provides full support for existing Entity Linking until then. Since the announcement, Microsoft no longer accepts new customer onboardings to Entity Linking. Existing Entity Linking customers need to transition off by the retirement date.",
  "migration_path": "1. Make a transition plan for [Named Entity Recognition](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/language-service/named-entity-recognition/overview) or another replacement solution. The source asks for this plan by September 08, 2026.\n2. Choose the replacement according to your workload and compliance requirements.\n3. Transition off Entity Linking by 8 Sep 2028.",
  "replacement": "Named Entity Recognition or another replacement solution",
  "affected_versions": [],
  "source_url": "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=499851",
  "extra_source_urls": [
    "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-services/language-service/named-entity-recognition/overview"
  ],
  "vendor_ref": "499851",
  "last_checked_at": "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z",
  "created_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-ai-language-entity-linking-retirement",
  "short_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/i/ae",
  "markdown_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-ai-language-entity-linking-retirement.md",
  "json_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-ai-language-entity-linking-retirement.json",
  "estate_check": null
}