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There are 3 modules in this course
The AI Agent Development Fundamentals course is designed for developers, engineers, and technical product builders who are new to Generative AI but already have intermediate machine learning knowledge, basic Python proficiency, and familiarity with development environments such as VS Code, and who want to engineer, customize, and deploy open generative AI solutions while avoiding vendor lock-in.
The course introduces learners to the core design patterns and practical skills required to build autonomous AI agents. Learners begin by studying the architectural foundations of agent systems, including perception, reasoning, and action loops, as well as the differences between reactive, deliberative, and hybrid agent types.
The course then focuses on building simple reactive agents, where learners apply structured prompting, decision-making frameworks, and natural language understanding to implement predictable and testable behaviors. In the final module, learners extend their agents with tool-use and memory management capabilities, using function-calling patterns, conversation history maintenance, and context window optimization. Practical exercises emphasize building agents with resilience through error handling and recovery strategies. By the end of the course, learners will have created functional agents capable of integrating tools, maintaining memory, and performing autonomous tasks.
Learn the key components that make agents work, perception, reasoning, action selection, and execution loops. You’ll compare reactive, deliberative, and hybrid designs, and see how prompt templates and state management enable multi-turn interactions. By the end, you’ll know how different agent types function, when to use each, and how they provide value in real-world scenarios.
What's included
3 videos2 readings1 assignment2 ungraded labs
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 23 minutes
Podcast: The Career Advantage of Knowing How AI Agents Work•7 minutes
Building the Core Agent Loop: Perception and Reasoning•7 minutes
Building the Core Agent Loop: Response, Memory, and Adaptation•10 minutes
2 readings•Total 25 minutes
Code Demonstration Transcripts•10 minutes
How AI Agents Are Built: Core Components You Need to Know•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Putting Architectures Into Practice: A Quick Check•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
Build and Compare an Agent Type Yourself•60 minutes
Explore More Agent Types in Action•60 minutes
Building Simple Reactive Agents
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
You'll build and test simple reactive agents that respond predictably using structured prompts and rule-based decision logic. You'll implement input parsing, apply deterministic behavior patterns through severity classification and action-mapping frameworks, and design clear output formatting strategies. Through validation frameworks, reasoning traces, and structured debugging, you'll evaluate how consistent your agent's behavior is across different scenarios. By the end, you'll know how to create reliable, production-ready reactive agents and understand why structured behavior is the foundation for more advanced systems with tools and memory.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 assignment2 ungraded labs
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 14 minutes
Podcast: Reactive Agents: The Building Blocks of Reliable AI Systems•3 minutes
From Prompt to Reactive Behavior•11 minutes
1 reading•Total 20 minutes
Testing and Debugging Reactive Agents•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Making Reactive Agents Reliable•30 minutes
2 ungraded labs•Total 120 minutes
Build a Reactive Agent•60 minutes
Test and Improve Your Reactive Agent•60 minutes
Tool Use and Memory Patterns
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
You’ll extend agents with tools and memory so they can recall context and perform real tasks. You’ll implement tool-calling patterns, design short-term and long-term memory strategies, and test how agents handle conversation history. These capabilities transform basic models into production-ready agents that adapt to users, integrate with systems, and deliver consistent value over time.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment1 ungraded lab
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 14 minutes
Podcast: Why Smart Memory Makes Agents More Than Just Chatbots•3 minutes
Calling Tools and Storing Memory in Practice•5 minutes
Managing Agent Memory, Context Windows, and Recovery•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 13 minutes
Tool Use and Memory Patterns Explained•13 minutes
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
End-to-End Agent Implementation•60 minutes
1 ungraded lab•Total 60 minutes
Give Your Agent a Tool and a Memory•60 minutes
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