Build An AI Agent From Scratch Using Azure AI Foundry

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of building an AI Agent from scratch using Azure AI Foundry. Whether you are a beginner in technology or an AI veteran looking to enhance your skills, this guide will help you understand how to create and manage your own AI Agents effectively.

Step 1: Create a New Project in Azure AI Foundry

1. Sign in to Azure AI Foundry:

   • Navigate to the Azure AI Foundry website and log in with your credentials.

2. Initiate a New Project:

   • Locate the option to create a new project on the dashboard.
   • Click on "Create Project" and fill in the necessary details:
     • Project Name
     • Description
     • Choose the appropriate settings based on your needs.

3. Confirm Creation:

   • Review the details and click "Create" to finalize your project setup.

Step 2: Navigate the Agents Playground

1. Access the Playground:

   • From your project dashboard, find the Agents Playground section.

2. Explore Features:

   • Familiarize yourself with the interface, including:
     • Available tools and options for agent development.
     • Pre-existing templates and examples of AI Agents.

3. Understand Key Components:

   • Take note of components such as:
     • Action buttons
     • Configuration settings
     • Monitoring tools for agent performance.

Step 3: Create Your First AI Agent

1. Select Agent Type:

   • In the Agents Playground, choose the type of agent you want to create.

2. Configure Agent Settings:

   • Input relevant configurations:
     • Name your agent.
     • Set parameters such as response style, tone, and interactivity.

3. Save Your Agent:

   • Review the settings and click "Save" to create the agent.

Step 4: Make AI Agents Take Actions

1. Define Actions:

   • In the agent settings, specify what actions your agent should be able to perform, such as:
     • Answering questions
     • Executing commands
     • Retrieving information.

2. Test Actions:

   • Use the testing feature in the playground to simulate interactions with your agent.
   • Observe how the agent responds to various prompts and refine its actions as necessary.

Step 5: Add Knowledge to AI Agent for RAG

1. Integrate Knowledge Sources:

   • Identify the knowledge bases or documents that your agent will use for information retrieval.
   • Upload or link these sources within the agent's configuration.

2. Utilize Retrieval Augmented Generation:

   • Enable RAG functionality to improve your agent's response accuracy.
   • Configure the agent to fetch data from the integrated knowledge sources.

3. Conduct Final Testing:

   • Run comprehensive tests to ensure your agent retrieves and utilizes knowledge effectively.
   • Make adjustments to knowledge integration based on test results.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should now have a functional AI Agent built using Azure AI Foundry. Remember to continuously test and optimize your agent's performance and knowledge integration to enhance user interaction. Explore additional resources and tutorials to further expand your understanding of Azure AI capabilities. Happy building!