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AI Agents

2h 33m 13s
English
Paid

AI Agents is a 11-lesson 2 hours 33 minutes self-paced course by Zen van Riel. "AI Agents: Development Without Frameworks" is a practical guide to building robust and manageable AI agents using pure Python and direct interaction with AI APIs.

Course facts

Lessons
11
Duration
2 hours 33 minutes
Level
All levels
Language
English
Updated
Instructor
Zen van Riel
Price
Premium

"AI Agents: Development Without Frameworks" is a practical guide to building robust and manageable AI agents using pure Python and direct interaction with AI APIs.

Course Advantages

Unlike most training programs, in this course, you won't rely on complex and opaque frameworks. You will learn an approach used by strong engineers and leading AI companies: minimal abstractions, full control over logic, and predictable system behavior.

Practical Application

During the course, you will analyze a real AI application that:

  • processes text data (e.g., meeting transcripts);
  • makes decisions on actions;
  • calls external tools (creating calendar events, reports, etc.);
  • forms a final result for the user.

In-depth Understanding of AI Agents

You will understand how AI agents truly work:

  • what an agentic loop is and how it is implemented in practice;
  • how language models are transformed into structured commands (JSON);
  • how Python manages all logic, validation, and action execution;
  • how to correctly design the system of tools;
  • how to build reliable and secure AI applications.

Key Ideas of the Course

Special attention is given to the key idea of the course: the AI model does not execute code — it only suggests actions. All responsibility for execution, control, and security lies with your code.

Skills You Will Acquire

  • create AI agents from scratch without LangChain and similar frameworks;
  • work directly with model APIs (e.g., GPT or Claude);
  • implement tool calls and process their results;
  • build scalable and understandable architectures;
  • adapt agents for any tasks—from automation to research.

Who Is This Course For?

The course is suitable for developers who want to move from "toy" AI applications to real engineering solutions and gain full control over their systems.

Additional

  • https://github.com/AI-Engineer-Skool/local-ai-transcript-app/tree/checkpoint-agentic-openrouter
  • https://github.com/AI-Engineer-Skool/ai-voice-agent-bootstrap

Who teaches AI Agents? Zen van Riel

Zen van Riel thumbnail

I am focused on creating AI systems that truly work in production, rather than remaining at the demo level.

As a software engineer, I work on scaling real AI solutions in production at GitHub, and I also teach developers how to adapt to the future by practically implementing artificial intelligence.

Besides my main work, I am developing AI Native Engineer — my YouTube channel and community, where I share applied AI development skills.

My experience:

  • Over 5 years of developing and implementing cloud solutions
  • Deep expertise in LLMs, cloud architecture, and full-stack AI systems
  • Experience in creating and scaling AI products

I am convinced that the best engineers use AI not only as a tool to accelerate development but also as a foundation for creating new features and AI-native platforms that solve real problems.

What lessons are included in AI Agents?

This is a demo lesson (10:00 remaining)

You can watch up to 10 minutes for free. Subscribe to unlock all 11 lessons in this course and access 10,000+ hours of premium content across all courses.

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#1: 001 AI Agent Fundamentals
All Course Lessons (11)
#Lesson TitleDurationAccess
1
001 AI Agent Fundamentals Demo
11:17
2
002 PydanticAI Fundamentals
28:39
3
003 PydanticAI Agents
12:28
4
004 PydanticAI Agent Tools
09:53
5
005 PydanticAI Agent Dependencies
16:44
6
006 Full PydanticAI Agent Pattern
10:22
7
007 Connecting Agents with APIs
12:21
8
008 Connecting Agents with MCP Servers
22:49
9
009 Rest APIs vs MCP Servers for Agents
09:45
10
010 Build your own MCP server from FastAPI
10:25
11
011 Voice Agent Fundamentals
08:30
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Frequently asked questions

What are the prerequisites for enrolling in this course?
Before enrolling in the course, it is beneficial to have a fundamental understanding of Python, as the course focuses on developing AI agents using pure Python. Familiarity with basic concepts of AI and APIs would also be helpful, though not mandatory, as the course will cover interaction with AI APIs directly.
What projects will I build during the course?
During the course, you will analyze and build a real AI application that processes text data like meeting transcripts, makes decisions on actions, calls external tools to create calendar events and reports, and forms a final result for the user. This hands-on project will help you understand how to design and implement AI agents without relying on external frameworks.
Who is the target audience for this course?
The course is designed for individuals interested in developing AI agents using a hands-on approach with pure Python, without the use of frameworks like LangChain. It is suitable for engineers, developers, and AI enthusiasts who want full control over the logic and behavior of AI systems and are looking to deepen their understanding of AI agent design and implementation.
How does the course compare in scope to similar AI agent courses?
Unlike courses that rely on complex frameworks, this course emphasizes minimal abstractions and direct interaction with AI APIs. It provides a clear understanding of the underlying principles of AI agent behavior, focusing on the agentic loop, interaction with APIs, and system design, offering a more foundational and control-oriented approach than courses that abstract these details.
What specific tools or platforms will be used in the course?
The course involves working directly with model APIs such as GPT or Claude. It covers how to connect agents with APIs and MCP servers, and even includes lessons on building a custom MCP server using FastAPI. This approach ensures you have a strong grasp of the tools and platforms involved in AI agent development without relying on pre-built frameworks.
What topics are not covered in this course?
The course does not cover the use of AI frameworks like LangChain or similar abstractions. It also does not delve into advanced machine learning model training or data science techniques, as the focus is on the development of AI agents using direct API interactions and Python logic.
How much time should I expect to commit to this course?
The course consists of 11 lessons, which suggests a commitment of a few hours per lesson at a minimum to fully grasp the material and complete practical exercises. The exact time may vary depending on your prior experience and familiarity with Python and AI concepts. Engaging deeply with the hands-on project elements is recommended for the best learning experience.