This practical course provides a platform-independent introduction to designing, building, and improving AI agents using tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Azure AI Foundry, and other leading AI platforms. You will learn what makes an AI agent different from a chatbot or prompt, explore the core components of effective agent design, and discover where agents can deliver value in business processes.

Through a combination of theory and hands-on exercises, you will apply a proven framework to design an agent, create effective instructions, test its performance, and refine its outputs. The course also covers essential governance, security, and risk considerations, helping participants build agents that are practical, reliable, and fit for business use. The focus is on effective agent design, quality data, appropriate tools, and governance rather than reliance on any specific large language model (LLM).