Practical AI Agents 2026 – Build Agentic Workflows

Overview

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This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Unlock the power of AI agents and automation with this hands-on course that equips you to build intelligent workflows for business tasks, such as customer service and social media content creation. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to leverage automation to boost productivity and streamline operations. The course walks you through the essentials of AI agents, including creating your first AI agents and mastering prompt engineering. You’ll also learn how to design, test, and refine your agents, using tools like Zapier to maximize automation capabilities. Ideal for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals, this intermediate-level course requires no prior AI experience but benefits from basic business process knowledge. You'll finish with a clear roadmap to implement AI agents within your organization.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce you to the world of AI agents, automation, and agentic workflows. You’ll learn how to build your first AI agent quickly and explore how AI can transform tasks like marketing. We’ll also discuss the key decision-making process around creating vs. purchasing AI solutions.

ChatGPT and Prompt Agents Masterclass

In this module, we will dive into the world of prompt agents and teach you the best practices for crafting high-quality prompts. You’ll also learn how to build recurring AI agents using CustomGPTs, with examples like creating a customer service assistant that saves hours of manual work.

Designing AI Agents

In this module, we will focus on designing AI agents, learning to identify when and why you need them in your business. You’ll also master the art of visualizing your workflows through flowcharts and explore real-world design patterns for building effective AI agents.

Zapier Fundamentals

In this module, we will walk you through the fundamental aspects of using Zapier, from setting up your account to creating workflows with triggers and actions. You’ll also explore more advanced features, allowing you to maximize your automation potential.

AI Agents in Zapier

In this module, we will show you how to implement AI agents within Zapier, providing step-by-step examples of building powerful multi-agent systems for tasks like customer service, social media content generation, and more.

What to Do Next

In this module, we will guide you through creating a concrete 30-day action plan to start integrating AI agents into your workflows. By the end of this section, you'll be equipped with a roadmap to make your AI solutions a success.