Introduction to AI Agents

Overview

Learn the fundamentals of AI agents, their components, and real-world use—no coding required. Unlock the power of AI agents and transform how you work with agentic systems.

This beginner-friendly course is designed for anyone eager to understand the core concepts behind agentic AI systems, without writing a single line of code. You'll learn how AI agents differ from traditional automation tools and chatbots, explore their key components like memory, tool use, and orchestration, and discover when and how to implement agent-based solutions for real-world problems.

From customer support agents to coding assistants, this course uses relatable examples to demystify what makes AI systems agentic, how they reason, and how to use and build AI agents responsibly. Enroll now, and take your first step toward engaging with the next frontier of AI.

Syllabus

• Foundations of AI Agents
Get introduced to what AI agents are, how they differ from traditional automation and AI systems, and why they matter. You'll explore real-world examples—like customer support bots and travel agents—to understand key components such as memory, tools, and orchestration.
• Agentic Design Patterns & Architectures
Dive deeper into how AI agents think and act through frameworks like the Thought-Action-Observation (TAO) loop and ReAct prompting. You'll explore how agents interact with tools, environments, and each other, building toward more advanced multi-agent systems.
• Building and Using AI Agents Responsibly
Learn how to use and design AI agents with intention and care. This chapter covers essential guardrails, practical best practices, and how to evaluate when agentic solutions are the right fit—empowering you to apply agentic systems ethically and effectively in real-world contexts.

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Taught by

Adel Nehme and James Chapman

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Subjects

Computer Science