diff --git a/.openpublishing.redirection.ai.json b/.openpublishing.redirection.ai.json index fc3dc05eff4b4..f007f29d0a3a2 100644 --- a/.openpublishing.redirection.ai.json +++ b/.openpublishing.redirection.ai.json @@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ "redirect_url": "/dotnet/ai/microsoft-extensions-ai", "redirect_document_id": true }, - { - "source_path_from_root": "/docs/ai/conceptual/agents.md", - "redirect_url": "/dotnet/ai" - }, { "source_path_from_root": "/docs/ai/conceptual/evaluation-libraries.md", "redirect_url": "/dotnet/ai/evaluation/libraries", diff --git a/docs/ai/conceptual/agents.md b/docs/ai/conceptual/agents.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..91b66d6ca8273 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/ai/conceptual/agents.md @@ -0,0 +1,96 @@ +--- +title: Agents +description: Introduction to agents +author: luisquintanilla +ms.author: luquinta +ms.date: 10/01/2025 +ms.topic: concept-article +--- + +# Agents + +This article introduces the core concepts behind agents, why they matter, and how they fit into workflows, setting you up to get started building agents in .NET. + +## What are agents? + +**Agents are systems that accomplish objectives.** + +![Components of an agent](../media/agents/agent-components.png) + +Agents become more capable when equipped with the following: + +- **Reasoning and decision-making**: Powered by LLMs, search algorithms, or planning and decision-making systems. +- **Tool usage**: Access to Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, code execution, and external APIs. +- **Context awareness**: Informed by chat history, threads, vector stores, enterprise data, or knowledge graphs. + +These capabilities allow agents to operate more autonomously, adaptively, and intelligently. + +## What are workflows? + +As objectives grow in complexity, they need to be broken down into manageable steps. That's where workflows come in. + +**Workflows define the sequence of steps required to achieve an objective.** + +Imagine you're launching a new feature on your business website. If it's a simple update, you might go from idea to production in a few hours. But for more complex initiatives, the process might include: + +- Requirement gathering +- Design and architecture +- Implementation +- Testing +- Deployment + +A few important observations: + +- Each step might contain subtasks. +- Different specialists might own different phases. +- Progress isn’t always linear. Bugs found during testing might send you back to implementation. +- Success depends on planning, orchestration, and communication across stakeholders. + +### Agents + workflows = agentic workflows + +Workflows don't require agents, but agents can supercharge them. + +When agents are equipped with reasoning, tools, and context, they can optimize workflows. + +This is the foundation of multi-agent systems, where agents collaborate within workflows to achieve complex goals. + +### Workflow orchestration + +Agentic workflows can be orchestrated in a variety of ways. The following are a few of the most common: + +- [Sequential](#sequential) +- [Concurrent](#concurrent) +- [Handoff](#handoff) +- [Group chat](#group-chat) + +#### Sequential + +Agents process tasks one after another, passing results forward. + +![Sequential agent orchestration: Task Input → Agent A → Agent B → Agent C → Final Output](../media/agents/sequential-workflow.png) + +#### Concurrent + +Agents work in parallel, each handling different aspects of the task. + +![Concurrent agent orchestration: Task Input → Agents A, B, C → Aggregate Results → Final Output](../media/agents/concurrent-workflow.png) + +#### Handoff + +Responsibility shifts from one agent to another based on conditions or outcomes. + +![Handoff orchestration: Task Input → Agent A Decision → Agent B or Agent A → Agent B Decision → Agent C or Agent B → Final Output](../media/agents/handoff-workflow.png) + +#### Group chat + +Agents collaborate in a shared conversation, exchanging insights in real-time. + +![Group chat orchestration: User and Agents A, B, C collaborate via GroupChat to produce final output](../media/agents/groupchat-workflow.png) + +## How can I get started building agents in .NET? + +The building blocks in and supply the foundations for agents by providing modular components for AI models, tools, and data. + +These components serve as the foundation for Microsoft Agent Framework. + +For more information, see [Microsoft Agent Framework](/agent-framework/overview/agent-framework-overview). diff --git a/docs/ai/index.yml b/docs/ai/index.yml index 1bc002a397c97..4a4879a321bb8 100644 --- a/docs/ai/index.yml +++ b/docs/ai/index.yml @@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ landingContent: url: overview.md - text: Microsoft.Extensions.AI libraries url: microsoft-extensions-ai.md + - text: Microsoft Agent Framework + url: /agent-framework/overview/agent-framework-overview?toc=/dotnet/ai/toc.json&bc=/dotnet/ai/toc.json - linkListType: get-started links: - text: Connect to and prompt an AI model diff --git a/docs/ai/media/agents/agent-components.png b/docs/ai/media/agents/agent-components.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..bcc165855a993 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/ai/media/agents/agent-components.png differ diff --git a/docs/ai/media/agents/concurrent-workflow.png b/docs/ai/media/agents/concurrent-workflow.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..15e462c1b1e1d Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/ai/media/agents/concurrent-workflow.png differ diff --git a/docs/ai/media/agents/groupchat-workflow.png b/docs/ai/media/agents/groupchat-workflow.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..7688d96539a69 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/ai/media/agents/groupchat-workflow.png differ diff --git a/docs/ai/media/agents/handoff-workflow.png b/docs/ai/media/agents/handoff-workflow.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..1cc58f22ec8f8 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/ai/media/agents/handoff-workflow.png differ diff --git a/docs/ai/media/agents/sequential-workflow.png b/docs/ai/media/agents/sequential-workflow.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000..84f9a745bae53 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/ai/media/agents/sequential-workflow.png differ diff --git a/docs/ai/toc.yml b/docs/ai/toc.yml index c53a1e1b86223..7d78494822e70 100644 --- a/docs/ai/toc.yml +++ b/docs/ai/toc.yml @@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ items: - name: Overview href: dotnet-ai-ecosystem.md - name: Microsoft.Extensions.AI - href: microsoft-extensions-ai.md - - name: Semantic Kernel - href: semantic-kernel-dotnet-overview.md + href: microsoft-extensions-ai.md + - name: Microsoft Agent Framework + href: /agent-framework/overview/agent-framework-overview?toc=/dotnet/ai/toc.json&bc=/dotnet/ai/toc.json - name: C# SDK for MCP href: get-started-mcp.md - name: Quickstarts @@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ items: items: - name: How generative AI and LLMs work href: conceptual/how-genai-and-llms-work.md + - name: Building agents in .NET + href: conceptual/agents.md - name: Tokens href: conceptual/understanding-tokens.md - name: Embeddings