Want to build AI agents? 5 simple ways to start for beginners

I receive numerous emails and messages every day, and managing them all used to be a challenge. Sometimes it felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day to get everything under control. That was exactly the moment when I decided to make AI agents for myself to tackle the mundane tasks of my profession. Though I had an engineering background, I did not want to write the code by hand like the rest of you. Hence, I started looking for beginner-friendly solutions that I could actually use. During this research, I discovered the methods explained in the article below, which you can also use to build AI agents of your own.

Method 1: Build your AI agent with no-code platforms

If you’re looking for the easiest and the quickest way to get started with your personal AI agents, then the no-code platforms are your best friend. These tools allow you to create basic AI agents by merely clicking a few buttons or filling out some forms. Furthermore, you need not worry about anything technical, as these platforms themselves take care of all the complex things, which include the coding as well.

While you’re not required to code, these tools still give you the satisfaction of building something unique, and you may still feel like a coder even without writing a single line of code. With these tools you can create simple AI agents that reply to emails or answer common questions, or even complex AI agents that help you plan tasks. If you’re looking for how you can use them, here are some general steps:

1. Decide on one small, clear task for your agent.
2. Choose a no-code AI platform.
3. Write instructions in plain, simple language.
4. Test the responses and gradually improve them.

Some of the best no-code platforms to build AI agents for free include Zapier, Make, N8N (with its open-source version), Relevance AI, MindStudio, Lindy, and Voiceflow.

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Method 2: Automation platforms for building AI agents

If you want a little more control but don’t want to do complex coding, automation tools are a simple and beginner-friendly option for building AI agents. These tools let you connect different apps and AI models so they can work together automatically, without needing manual work.

Furthermore, some of these automation tools also allow you to create AI agents that trigger actions based on events. These tools use visual workflows where you simply drag, drop, and connect steps together. All you are required to do is simply configure actions and conditions to build powerful AI agents. If you’re looking to get started with the automation-based AI agent, here are some basic steps:

1. Decide what task or process you want to automate.
2. Pick an automation tool that works with AI.
3. Connect the apps and AI model you want to use.
4. Set up simple triggers and actions to create a workflow.
5. Test the automation and improve it step by step.

Some popular free tools for building AI agents are Latenode, AutoGen, Flowise, and n8n. Aside from these, you can also use Dialogflow for testing, CrewAI for building agents that work together, and tools like LangChain and its visual version, LangFlow, if you want more customisation.

Method 3: Build AI agents using frameworks

Using frameworks is another option you can use to build your AI agents. However, unlike the previous options, you would require some coding knowledge to work with frameworks and use them to build your AI agent. All these tools or platforms offer structure, rules, and methods which serve as building blocks to automate your own AI agents.

However, unlike the previous options, you need some coding knowledge to use frameworks and build your AI agent. These tools or platforms provide structure, rules, and methods that act as building blocks to automate your own AI agents.

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1. Decide what the agent should do and how much freedom it has.
2. Pick an AI system and model for it to use.
3. Set up its instructions, memory, and how it makes decisions.
4. Connect it to the tools and data it needs.
5. Test it, launch it, watch how it works, and keep improving it.

You can build AI agents for free using popular open-source frameworks like LangChain, AutoGen, and CrewAI.

Method 4: OpenAI Assistants API for AI agent building

OpenAI’s Assistants API is yet another option if you want to create an AI agent on your own. Though it’s not entirely a no-code solution, it is the most simplified means of building highly advanced AI agents with less coding. This becomes highly beneficial if you want to create your AI agent in such a way that it will behave or perform in a certain way.

Furthermore, the good thing is you can simply define what your agent should do in plain language, such as answering customer questions, summarising documents, or helping users plan tasks. Most of the heavy lifting is handled by OpenAI, so you don’t need to worry about building models or managing infrastructure. Using it is fairly simple, as all you need to do is follow the steps below:

1. Create an assistant with clear instructions.
2. Add memory or reference documents.
3. Connect tools for specific actions.
4. Test conversations and refine responses.

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Method 5: Customise templates to build your AI agents

Another easy way for a beginner to create their own AI model is through template modification. Most no-code AI tools have template models for everyday tasks such as responding to customer queries, handling emails, setting up meetings, or creating content. Rather than having to create an AI model again, one can use a template based on their objective.

In these templates, most of the work has been done in the form of instructions, processes, and logic. One only has to adjust the prompts, tone, rules, and corresponding tools. This is the easiest method, and it’s perfect even for a newbie. You can apply the templates to make your AI model with the steps below:

1. Browse the template library of your chosen no-code platform.
2. Choose a template that matches your scenario.
3. Use the instruction set to create your own versions using simple words.
4. Test the agent to see how it responds to certain input; then refine the responses.

Some of the best platforms where we may find free templates for AI agents and customise them include Wonderchat, Webble, Swiftask, MindStudio, GPTBots, AIAgents, and Ethora.