Explore the next evolution of AI: agentic systems powered by large language models (LLMs) that go beyond chat to act, plan, and use tools.
AI is rapidly moving beyond chatbots. In 2026, the real shift is from asking AI questions to assigning AI tasks.
In this free workshop, you’ll get a practical introduction to AI agents, LLM-powered systems designed to reason through multi-step objectives, call tools, retrieve information, and execute workflows across modern applications. You’ll learn what makes agentic AI different from automation and chat, how agent systems are structured, and where they’re already showing up in real-world product and engineering environments.
You’ll also get a live demonstration of a simple agent workflow and learn how WatSPEED’s AI Certificate Program can help you build the skills needed to apply agentic AI in modern software development and technical leadership contexts.
What you will learn
In this session, you’ll learn:
- What AI agents are (and why now): Understand the shift from chat → action and what’s driving agent adoption
- Agents vs chatbots vs workflows: Learn what makes agentic systems adaptive, tool-enabled, and goal-driven
- How agentic systems work: Explore the building blocks—models, instructions, tools, memory, planning, and guardrails
- Real-world agent use cases: See examples like summarization and action extraction, reporting, task execution, and decision support
- Where agents fit in application development: Learn how agents are becoming embedded in dev tools, business apps, and data workflows
- Risks and guardrails that matter: Privacy, permissions, evaluation, and safe deployment patterns
- Live demo: Watch a simple LLM-powered agent solve a real work task end-to-end
Q&A Session
Bring your questions and explore the future of intelligent automation in real workflows.
Meet your workshop host
Larry Simon
AI Certificate Program Lead
Larry Simon is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and angel investor, specializing in IT strategy and data analytics. He is the founder and managing director of Inflection Group and has over 30 years of experience advising startups, global corporations, and government institutions.
Larry was previously a partner with Ernst & Young Consulting, their CTO and national director of their strategy and delivery centres. Larry is the lead for the AI Certificate program as well as the Data Science Certificate program, which is offered in partnership with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.
You may also be interested in:
Foundations of Large Language Models: Tools, Techniques, and Applications
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest techniques, tools, and applications of LLMs so you can build better applications or processes. Prior experience with Python, API endpoints, and machine learning libraries is required.
Register to attend the workshop!
Secure your spot and join us online for this insightful session on AI agent technology.
Questions?
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
Learn more about the AI Certificate Program
Build future-ready skills in applied AI through hands-on projects, expert instruction, and real-world applications.
Is this webinar free?
Yes. This is a complimentary online workshop offered by WatSPEED at the University
of Waterloo.
Who should attend this webinar?
This session is designed for professionals, technical practitioners, managers, and
leaders who want to understand what AI agents are, how they differ from chatbots and
workflows, and where they are being applied in real-world settings.
Do I need prior AI or programming experience?
No prior experience with AI agents is required. Familiarity with basic AI or data
concepts is helpful but not mandatory.
What will I learn in this session?
You’ll gain a practical understanding of AI agents, including how they plan, act,
and use tools; how they differ from traditional AI applications; and where organizations
are beginning to deploy agentic systems today.
Will this webinar be technical?
The session will balance conceptual understanding with practical examples. It is designed
to be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Is this webinar recorded?
Yes. A recording will be shared with registered participants after the session.
How long is the webinar?
The session will run for approximately 60 minutes, including time for audience Q&A.
How do I attend?
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access link
prior to the event.
Does this webinar relate to a WatSPEED program or course?
Yes. This webinar introduces concepts covered in WatSPEED’s AI Certificate Technical
Track, including the course Agentic AI, for those interested in deeper, applied learning.
Will there be an opportunity to ask questions?
Yes. Time will be reserved at the end of the session for live Q&A with the presenter.
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is a system powered by large language models (LLMs) that can plan, make
decisions, and take actions - often across multiple steps - by using tools, data,
or external systems to complete a task.
What is agentic AI?
Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to act autonomously toward a goal. Instead
of only responding to prompts, agentic systems can decide what to do next, adapt based
on results, and coordinate multiple actions to achieve an outcome.
How are AI agents different from chatbots?
Chatbots primarily respond to user questions. AI agents can go further by planning
tasks, calling tools or APIs, interacting with systems, and executing multi-step workflows
with minimal human input.
How are AI agents different from workflow automation?
Traditional automation follows fixed, pre-defined steps. AI agents are more flexible
- they can reason, choose actions dynamically, and adjust their approach based on
context or changing conditions.
Why are AI agents gaining attention now?
Recent advances in large language models, tool integration, and reasoning capabilities
have made it possible to move from conversational AI to systems that can take action
in real-world environments.
Where are AI agents being used today?
AI agents are beginning to be used in areas such as software development, data analysis,
research assistance, customer support, operations, and decision support - often as
copilots rather than replacements for humans.