Learn how agents use tools—calling APIs for search, calendar, email, and more
Part of AI Agents: From Chatbots To Doers
Educational content slides
Without tools: Agent: "I think you should check your calendar and search for restaurants nearby." You have to do it manually ❌
With tools: Agent: Calls check_calendar() "You're free at 7pm." Calls search_restaurants({location: 'nearby', time: '7pm'}) "Found 5 options. Shall I book the Italian place?" ✓
Tools transform agents from advisors to workers. They're the bridge between AI reasoning and the real world.
Test your understanding with this quiz.
User asks: 'What's the weather in Paris and should I bring an umbrella?' Which tools should the agent use?
Complete this exercise and get AI-powered feedback.
Create a tool definition that gives an agent a specific capability. Think about what parameters are needed and how to make the description clear.
Principle: Specialized tools > generic ones for focused tasks.