Lesson 3 of 87 min

Models, Providers and Tools

Learning goal: Distinguish model, provider, application, API and agent in any AI product.

Lesson

A model processes input; a provider develops or operates it; an application supplies the interface and features; an API lets software request output; an agent combines a model, goal, tools and multiple steps. Products using the same model can behave differently because their instructions, tools and data differ.

Example

Research assistant = model + search + documents + review UI.

Common mistake

Crediting every feature to the model alone.

Exercise

Identify these layers in one product.

Commands to try

Curated workflow shortcuts from the Academy library — not necessarily native Claude commands.

Quick check

What makes a workflow agentic?

Answer: Goals, tools, observations and further decisions.