Lead AI Strategy with UCSB's Agentic AI Program — Microsoft Certified
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Explore the critical role of tool calling in AI agent functionality through this 25-minute conference talk that goes beyond technical implementation to examine why tool calling serves as the foundation for agent capabilities. Learn how tool calling enables AI agents to connect with external systems, access databases, and execute complex tasks while understanding the parallels between building effective tools and designing robust APIs. Discover best practices for authentication, security considerations, and architectural design patterns that make tools both powerful and reliable. Examine various approaches to creating tools that facilitate agent connections to APIs, databases, and other external resources, ultimately enhancing agent intelligence and practical utility. Gain insights into building MCP servers and utilizing tool calling platforms through practical examples and real-world applications that demonstrate how proper tool design transforms basic AI agents into sophisticated, capable systems.
Syllabus
Tool Calling Is Not Just Plumbing for AI Agents — Roy Derks
Taught by
AI Engineer