At a Glance

Name: Introduction to Agentic AI
Price: Free CAD
Rating: 4.7 (154 reviews)
Author: wojciech_fulmyk, karan_goswami, faranak_heidari, tenzin_migmar, abdul_fatir

This course introduces the fundamentals of AI agents through a rich mix of interactive content. Learn what AI agents are, how they function, and why they are shaping the future of technology. Engage with an AI-driven podcast that responds to your questions, watch informative videos, explore curated readings, and check your understanding with short quizzes. Perfect for anyone looking to build a strong foundation in agentic artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we live, work, and interact with technology—and at the heart of this transformation are AI agents. These systems can perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. But what exactly are they? How do they work? And why are they becoming so important?

This course is designed to answer those questions in an engaging and accessible way. Whether you're a student, a professional exploring AI, or simply someone interested in how intelligent systems are shaping the world, this course will give you the foundational knowledge you need. Through interactive content—including an AI-driven podcast whose participants answer your questions—you’ll not only learn about AI agents but also experience how they function.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to explain what AI agents are, describe how they operate, and identify their applications across different industries. You’ll also gain the confidence to explore more advanced AI topics or apply your knowledge in practical settings.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Explain the core principles of agentic AI and distinguish it from generative AI models.
Describe how AI agents interact with tools and services using protocols like MCP to perform complex tasks autonomously.
Analyze the structure and function of orchestrator agents and how they coordinate multiple agents to complete workflows.
Evaluate the benefits, limitations, and risks of deploying agentic AI in real-world environments and multi-agent systems.

Course Overview

Lesson 1: Foundations of Agentic AI

Explore how agentic AI differs from generative AI and why this matters in real-world applications
Understand what makes an AI system an “agent” and how agents operate independently
Examine how agentic systems compare to traditional AI workflows and automation tools
Learn about different categories of AI agents and the roles they play
Identify practical scenarios where agentic AI is useful—and where it may not be the best fit

Lesson 2: Tool Use and the Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Discover how AI agents enhance their capabilities by interacting with external tools and services
See how agents can perform tasks like querying databases using real-world examples such as SQL agents
Understand the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how it enables seamless tool integration
Learn when it’s appropriate for agents to call tools automatically versus when human oversight is needed

Lesson 3: Agentic RAG and Multi-Agent Collaboration

Understand the importance of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for accessing up-to-date information
Learn how agents use RAG to improve reasoning and decision-making
Explore orchestrator agents, which coordinate multiple specialized agents to complete complex workflows
Get introduced to the basics of multi-agent systems and how they communicate and collaborate
Examine the potential risks and challenges of deploying agentic AI in real-world environments

Course prerequisites

All you need is a desire to learn about AI agents and a current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. The course runs entirely in your browser—no downloads or installations required.

Offered By: IBMSkillsNetwork

Introduction to Agentic AI

At a Glance

What You’ll Learn

Course Overview

Course prerequisites

This is part of the following learning path