AI Agents at Work: Foundations
Understand what AI agents are and hand off your first task safely
A plain-language introduction to AI agents at work. Learn what agents are, how they differ from chatbots, and how to hand an agent its first task safely, with a clear brief, the right approvals and a careful review. This beginner course uses the ETA Agent Autonomy Ladder and ETA's ADAPT framework, with workplace examples from many sectors and hands-on exercises in the AI tool your organization approves.
What you'll learn
- Explain the difference between a chatbot and an AI agent in plain words
- Use the five rungs of the ETA Agent Autonomy Ladder to decide how much to let AI do on its own
- Recognize the kinds of agents people use at work today, and what they do well and poorly
- Pick a first agent task that is low risk, reversible and easy to check
- Write a five-part task brief: goal, done criteria, inputs, limits, and when to stop and ask
- Stay in control with approvals before sending, buying or deleting, and review both the result and the steps an agent took
- Apply safety basics: least access, never sharing passwords, and spotting prompt injection
Who it's for
Working adults in any sector who have used a chatbot such as ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot or Gemini and want to start using AI agents safely. No technical background or coding is needed. Pairs well with AI Fluency: Foundations; when you are ready for more, continue to AI Agents at Work: Practitioner.
This course counts toward the ETA AI Empowered Professional: Foundations credential and the ETA Certified AI Empowered Professional designation. It takes about 1 hour and includes two knowledge checks and a final assessment.