4. AI Instruments: Understanding Tools

Standard LLMs only output text. They cannot browse the web, write files, or send emails on their own. Agentic AI uses 'Tools' to perform actions in the real world. **What is a Tool?** A tool is a function or API registered with the AI. Examples include: * **Web Search Tool:** Fetches real-time information. * **File System Tool:** Reads and writes local files. * **Calculator Tool:** Performs complex mathematical computations. * **Code Execution Tool:** Executes code to debug errors. **How do Tools Work?** The AI decides which tool to use. For example, if asked 'What is the weather in Yangon?', the AI invokes its weather API tool and parses the returned result to draft a final response. **The Role of Function Calling** For tools to work, LLMs must support 'Function Calling' to understand tool schemas and format arguments correctly. Tools empower AI to solve practical real-world problems.