Introduction
Microsoft has launched the free course Artificial Intelligence Agents , designed for anyone who wants to learn how to build and implement these powerful technology solutions. This training course represents a unique opportunity to acquire Advanced skills in the field of AI, directly from one of the world leaders in the field.
Overview of the Artificial Intelligence Agents Course for Beginners
The free course on Artificial Intelligence Agents is structured in 11 comprehensive lessons that cover all the fundamental aspects needed to start building functional and effective AI agents . Each lesson is designed to be self-contained, allowing students to start with the module that best suits their needs and level of expertise.
This course represents an important Educational resource for anyone who wants to explore the world of AI agents , from beginners to experienced developers looking to expand their skills. The modular structure allows for specific aspects of the technology, such as Design Pattern , the implementation of tools, or the creation of multiple agents that collaborate with each other.
Microsoft has made this course available as part of its commitment to Democratizing access to AI , providing the tools and knowledge needed to make the most of these emerging technologies. For those who are completely new to the field of generative AI, Microsoft recommends starting with the " Generative AI For Beginners ", which includes 21 lessons on developing with generative AI.
The 11 Lessons of the "AI Agents for Beginners" Course
The course consists of 11 full lessons that cover the entire spectrum of AI agent building. Each lesson addresses a specific topic, allowing students to acquire targeted skills. Here is a detailed overview of the contents:
- 1. Introduction to AI Agents and Use Cases: This lesson provides the theoretical and practical foundations of AI agents, explaining what they are and how they can be used in different application contexts.
- 2. Exploring AI Agent Frameworks : Here we look at the different frameworks available for developing AI agents, with a focus on those provided by Microsoft.
- 3. Understanding AI Agentic Design Patterns : This lesson introduces the main design patterns for AI agents, providing a solid conceptual foundation.
- 4. Tool Usage Patterns : A deep dive into how AI agents can use external tools to expand their capabilities.
- 5. Agentic RAG : Exploration of Retrieval-Augmented Generation in the context of AI agents, a fundamental technique to improve response capabilities based on specific knowledge.
- 6. Building Reliable AI Agents : Focus on creating agents that are not only functional but also reliable, safe and ethical.
- 7. Planning Patterns : Insight into how agents can plan and sequence their actions to achieve complex goals.
- 8. Multi-Agent Pattern : Explore how multiple agents can work together to solve complex problems.
- 9. Metacognition Pattern : Analysis of how agents can "think about their own thinking" to improve their performance.
- 10. AI Agents in Production : A practical guide on how to bring AI agents from a development environment to a production environment.
- 11. AI Agents with Model Context Protocol (MCP) : Introduction to using the MCP protocol with AI agents.
Each lesson includes written material a Explanatory video , Python code examples and Links to additional resources to deepen learning. This multimodal approach ensures that students can learn in the way they prefer.
Technical Requirements and Necessary Resources
To effectively follow the course and put the examples provided into practice, some technical tools and resources are required. Microsoft has made the course accessible to both those who have an Azure account and those who prefer to use free resources, albeit with some limitations.
The code examples in the tutorials use Azure AI Foundry and GitHub Model Catalogs To interact with language models:
- GitHub Models : Free option but with limitations
- Azure AI Foundry : Requires an Azure account
The course also uses the following Frameworks and services for AI agents developed by Microsoft:
- Azure AI Agent Service : cloud service for creating and managing AI agents
- Semantic Kernel : Open-source framework that simplifies the integration of AI into applications
- AutoGen : Framework for creating conversational agents
To get started with the course, you can "fork" the official GitHub repository, which contains all the code examples in the "code_samples" folder. This allows you to create your own copy of the material and experiment freely with the code provided.
For those who need support or encounter difficulties during the learning journey, Microsoft has made several assistance resources available, including a Developer Forums dedicated to Azure AI Foundry and a channel Discord for the community.
Multi-Language Support and Additional Resources
One of the most appreciable features of the course is its Multi-language support , which makes it accessible to a global audience. The material is available in numerous languages, including French, Spanish, German, Chinese (both simplified and traditional), Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Portuguese, and Polish.
In addition, Strategix Srl will produce video in Italian for each lesson of the course, making the content even more accessible for the Italian public. These videos will provide detailed explanations and practical demonstrations, making it easier to understand even for those who prefer visual learning in Italian.
For those who want to further deepen their training in the field of artificial intelligence, Microsoft offers numerous Additional Resources and related courses, including:
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) For Beginners
- Generative AI for Beginners using .NET
- Generative AI for Beginners
- ML for Beginners
- Data Science for Beginners
- AI for Beginners
- Mastering GitHub Copilot for AI Paired Programming
These available courses allow you to learn the basics for a complete and personalized training path in the vast field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
How to Get Started and Join the Community
Getting started with the course is simple and immediate. Simply visit the Official repository on GitHub, put a star to support the project, and fork to create your own copy of the code.
For those who want to contribute to the improvement of the course, Microsoft encourages active participation, either by reporting any errors or suggesting improvements, or by participating directly in development through pull requests.
The Community that has formed around this course represents a valuable resource for all students. Through the Azure AI Foundry Community Discord channel, you can ask questions, share experiences, and collaborate with other AI enthusiasts.
For specific issues or product feedback, the Azure AI Foundry Developer Forum is also available, where Microsoft experts can provide technical support and answers to more complex questions.
This collaborative and open approach reflects Microsoft's philosophy of creating a Learning ecosystem inclusive and participatory, where knowledge is shared freely and innovation is encouraged through the exchange of ideas and collaboration.
