Agent & RAG Learning Path

Build intelligent agents and implement Retrieval Augmented Generation for more capable AI systems

Last updated: May 2025

Learning Objectives

By the end of this advanced learning path, you will be able to:

  • Build AI agents that can perform complex, multi-step tasks
  • Implement effective RAG systems for knowledge-intensive applications
  • Design and deploy multi-agent systems for collaborative tasks
  • Integrate external tools and APIs with agents
  • Create memory and knowledge retrieval systems for AI applications

Path Information

Details

  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced
  • Duration: 6-8 weeks

Prerequisites

  • Solid understanding of LLM capabilities and limitations
  • Experience with API integration
  • Basic knowledge of vector databases
  • Programming proficiency in Python or JavaScript

Target Audience

AI developersData engineersSolution architectsML engineers

Learning Path Structure

Phase 1: Agent Fundamentals

Understand the core concepts of AI agents and their implementation.

Agent Architecture

  • Core components of an AI agent
  • Agent models (reactive, goal-based, utility-based)
  • Planning and execution frameworks

Frameworks & Tools

  • LangChain vs. CrewAI
  • AutoGPT and BabyAGI
  • Setting up development environments

Basic Agent Implementation

  • Creating a single-task agent
  • Tool and API integration
  • Testing and debugging agents

Phase 2: Retrieval Augmented Generation

Master the techniques for augmenting LLMs with external knowledge.

Knowledge Representation

  • Vector embeddings and semantic search
  • Document chunking strategies
  • Metadata and filtering

Vector Databases

  • Setting up Pinecone, Weaviate, or Chroma
  • Indexing and querying vector databases
  • Hybrid search techniques

RAG Implementation

  • Building a basic RAG pipeline
  • Query reformulation techniques
  • Evaluating RAG quality

Phase 3: Advanced Agent Systems

Build sophisticated multi-agent systems with memory and advanced capabilities.

Multi-Agent Systems

  • Agent roles and specialization
  • Inter-agent communication
  • Orchestration and coordination

Memory Systems

  • Short-term and long-term memory
  • Contextual recall mechanisms
  • Memory indexing and retrieval

Capstone Project

  • Design a complex agent system with RAG capabilities
  • Implement evaluation metrics
  • Deploy and monitor the system

Learning Process

For best results with this advanced learning path:

  1. Complete each phase sequentially
  2. Build increasingly complex projects as you progress
  3. Focus on a specific domain application (e.g., customer service, research assistant)
  4. Continuously evaluate and refine your implementations