Unit Introduction
Welcome to the first unit of the course AI agents for beginners!
In this unit, you will start investigating AI agents and collecting useful information to understand how they work.
You will learn: what AI agents are
the different types of AI agents
what AI agents can do Get ready, your exploration is about to begin!
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is a type of software that can act on its own to achieve a specific goal.
It reacts to what happens (like a user asking something, a file being added, or a system change) and starts working without needing someone to control it
directly and performs the tasks needed to achieve its objective. It is called agent because it has agency, meaning it can understand what’s
happening, make decisions, and take action to achieve its goal.
An AI agent is like Derek the Detective, the best in his department at solving the most complicated cases. Simply tell him that a theft just happened, and you’ll get the criminal behind bars in no time. He’ll do all the work for you: study the case, investigate, and arrest Tyler the Thief.
AI agents - tell me more
AI agents use artificial intelligence, especially large language models (LLMs), to understand what’s going on, make plans, and decide what to do next. LLMs will be covered in the next course.
They can also learn from experience, remember past tasks, and change how they
act based on what worked well before.
To get things done, they often use tools like calculators, websites, or apps. These help them do things they can’t do with language alone.
Once set up, AI agents can work in many different situations on their own, usually
with no help from a human. Why is Derek so good? He picks up on clues fast, figures things out, and uses whatever tools he needs to crack the case. He learns from past experiences and adapts as he goes, all without needing someone to tell him what to do every step of the way. You would want him working on your case, right?
For sure this sounds very exciting, but it’s very theoretical. Can you give me a more practical example?
Of course! Imagine an AI agent that manages the inventory of the shop I Can’t Help Falling in Love with Clues, that sells magnifying glasses, pipes, and Sherlock Holmes’ hats.
AI agents in inventory management can automatically track stock levels, predict future demand, and reorder products when stock is low. They can analyze sales
patterns, seasonality, and other factors to ensure inventory is always at optimal
levels, without the need for human intervention.
Let’s have a look at how AI agents process information and take action to achieve their goals.
AI agents classification 1:
functionality AI agents can be grouped into categories based on what they do.
Simple reflex
React instantly to an event using fixed rules: “if X happens, do Y”, e.g. a thermostat that turns the heating on when the temperature drops.
Model based reflex
Keep a mental map of the environment and use that memory to make smarter decisions, e.g. a vacuum robot. Goal based
Work toward a specific goal. They think ahead and choose the actions that get them closer to it, e.g. a GPS.
Utility based
Choose actions based on what will give the best outcome according to a set of preferences or values, e.g. a self driving car. In Make, which kind of agents do you have? Derek the Detective
ClicktoseetheanswertoDerek’squestion
Within Make you can find goal based agents. All you need to do is give your AI agent an objective and the agent will determine the necessary steps to achieve it. You will learn more about AI agents in Make in the next course.
AI agents classification
2: number of agents
AI agents can also be classified based on the number of agents involved.
SINGLE AGENT MULTIPLE AGENTS
This type of agent works alone to complete an easy task. It uses the tools it needs to get the job done and doesn’t rely on other agents. It’s ideal for tasks that are simple, well-defined, and don’t need teamwork, e.g. a chatbot that handles customer support on its own.
SINGLE AGENT MULTIPLE AGENTS
Several agents work together towards one goal. Each one has different skills and tools. This setup is useful for handling more complex problems and can mimic how people interact or collaborate, e.g. air traffic control systems. Tell me about Make again, which kind of agents does it have? Derek the Detective
ClicktoseetheanswertoDerek’squestion
In Make, you can build a multi-agent system where AI Agents use Tools to trigger other AI Agents, forming a chain of specialists, each handling a specific task.
Real life examples
After all of this theory it’s finally time to look at some practical examples in which you can use AI agents.
CUSTOMER AGENT EMPLOYEE AGENT DATA AGENT SECURITY AGENT
A customer agent helps people on websites, especially in online stores. For example, a chatbot on a retail site can help customers track their orders, answer questions, or suggest products they might like.
The main goal is to make the customer experience better by offering quick, helpful, and personalized support.
CUSTOMER AGENT EMPLOYEE AGENT DATA AGENT SECURITY AGENT
An employee agent supports people within a company. For example, an AI onboarding assistant can guide new employees through paperwork, setting up tools, and basic training.
The main goal is to help internal operations by assisting employees with administrative tasks, training, and onboarding. CUSTOMER AGENT EMPLOYEE AGENT DATA AGENT SECURITY AGENT
A data agent works with large amounts of information to support or even make decisions. For example, an AI Agent can scan long reports and create short summaries, or take action based on what it finds.
The main goal is to collect, process, analyze, and summarize data to support or automate decision making. CUSTOMER AGENT EMPLOYEE AGENT DATA AGENT SECURITY AGENT
A security agent helps protect systems by keeping an eye out for threats. For example, an AI Agent can detect phishing attempts by spotting unusual activity and flagging risks in real time.
The main goal is to monitor systems for potential threats, ensure compliance, and respond to security issues, taking action automatically to prevent harm.
Agents, assistants and bots
You’ve probably heard of bots and AI assistants, but you might be wondering how AI agents are different. Bots, AI assistants, and AI agents are all computer programs that help with tasks, but they don’t work the same way.
BOTS AI ASSISTANTS AI AGENTS
Bots follow simple rules to do things like send automatic replies in a chat.
They can handle basic tasks and only react to clear commands or triggers. They don’t really learn or adapt, they just follow a script.
They’re like Richard the Receptionist that greets visitors and sends them to the right place by following a script. BOTS AI ASSISTANTS AI AGENTS
AI assistants (like Siri or Alexa) are a bit smarter than bots.
They answer your questions, help you with simple tasks, and give you useful information. They can suggest what to do next, but you’re the one who decides. They only do something when you ask.
Think of Angela the Archivist: she helps Derek by finding the right files or giving tips, but she waits for him to ask and doesn’t make choices on her own.
BOTS AI ASSISTANTS AI AGENTS
As you’ve learned in this unit, AI agents go even further. They work on their own to reach a goal, make decisions by themselves, use tools, and adjust to new situations. They don’t need to wait to be told what to do, they’re proactive, can handle complex tasks with many steps, and keep learning to get better over time.
You already know what an amazing detective Derek is. No need to keep repeating it here.
Are AI agents replacing bots and AI assistants? Derek the Detective
ClicktoseetheanswertoDerek’squestion
AI agents are not going to replace bots and AI assistants, but they will contribute to their evolution. Many modern AI assistants are becoming more agent-like by adding autonomous features that allow them to perform simple tasks on their own. But simpler bots and assistants are still widely used for straightforward tasks because they’re easier to control and more predictable.
In summary:
AI agents represent the next step, more autonomous, goal-driven systems, but bots and AI assistants still play a big role, especially for reactive, user-driven interactions.
Advantages of AI agents
You’ve seen how AI agents can be helpful, but if you need more reasons, here are the benefits of using AI agents.
1 AI agents boost efficiency and productivity by taking care of repetitive or time-consuming tasks, like scheduling meetings, managing emails, or monitoring data, so users can focus on more strategic work.
2 They analyze data in real time, helping with better decision-making, such as spotting trends in customer behavior or finding the best delivery routes.
3 AI agents have advanced abilities, like working across different tools or platforms to carry out complex tasks on their own. They help users achieve more by planning ahead, adjusting to changes, and acting without needing constant guidance. Continuetothewrapupforthisunit
Wrap up
An AI agent is a smart program that works on its own to reach a goal. When asked to do a job, it gets it done without needing someone to guide it step by step.
AI agents follow a cycle to get things done: they observe their environment, understand what’s happening, decide what to do, make a plan, take action, communicate if needed, and learn from the results to improve over time.
AI agents can be used in many areas to make work easier and faster. They can assist customers on websites, help employees with training and tasks, process and summarize data for better decisions, and protect systems by spotting and responding to security threats.
Unit complete!
Good job! You have started to collect information on AI agents.
By now you should have an understanding of:
what AI agents are the different types of AI agents
what AI agents can do
In the next unit you will learn in more detail how AI agents work. Time
to keep investigating!
Mark this task complete to continue to the next unit.