On March 19, I attended the Microsoft Virtual Training Day: Build Agentic AI Solutions with Azure AI Foundry , a deep‑dive session focused on the emerging world of agentic AI , multi‑agent orchestration, and the evolving Azure ecosystem. With the new AI‑103 (beta) exam approaching, this training arrived at the perfect time.
Microsoft has now published the official AI‑103 syllabus and a few self‑paced modules , which provide much‑needed structure for early learners:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/courses/ai-103t00#course-syllabus
Below is my updated summary of the training, how it aligns with the exam, and my revised learning plan.
1. Summary of the Training Day Content
The training covered the full lifecycle of building AI agents on Azure:
Getting Started with AI Agent Development on Azure
A walkthrough of Azure AI Foundry, including model catalog, prompt flow, and evaluation tools.
Developing an AI Agent with Azure AI Agent Service
How to configure, deploy, and scale agents using Microsoft’s new agent runtime.
Integrating Custom Tools into Your Agent
Connecting agents to APIs, enterprise systems, and custom tools for real‑world use cases.
Developing Agents with the Semantic Kernel SDK
Using planners, skills, connectors, and orchestration patterns to build intelligent workflows.
Orchestrating Multi‑Agent Solutions
Designing collaborative agent systems that delegate tasks and coordinate actions.
Developing Multi‑Agent Solutions with Azure AI Foundry Agent Service
Advanced multi‑agent patterns, routing strategies, and evaluation workflows.
Integrating MCP Tools with Azure AI Agents
A forward‑looking module on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and standardized tool integration.
2. How This Training Supports AI‑103 Exam Preparation
The training aligns closely with the expected AI‑103 domains:
- Azure AI Foundry fundamentals
- Agent Service configuration
- Semantic Kernel development
- Tool integration (including MCP)
- Multi‑agent orchestration
- Evaluation and responsible AI
With the syllabus now available, it’s clear that AI‑103 is centered on agentic AI , not just traditional LLM operations.
3. AI‑103 Beta Exam — Registration Still Pending
Although the exam has been announced, beta registration is not yet open.
This creates a unique situation: early learners must prepare using a mix of training content, documentation, and hands‑on practice.
The newly published syllabus helps clarify the scope, but official learning paths are still limited.
4. Updated Learning Plan (Now Including Official Syllabus)
With the syllabus available, I’ve updated my study plan to align with Microsoft’s structure.
A. Follow the Official AI‑103 Syllabus
The syllabus outlines the core domains:
- Azure AI Foundry
- Agent development
- Semantic Kernel
- Tool integration
- Multi‑agent orchestration
- Evaluation and monitoring
This is now my primary roadmap.
B. Complete the Available Self‑Paced Modules
The course page includes a few early modules that reinforce foundational concepts.
These are short but useful for grounding terminology and workflows.
C. Deep Dive into Azure AI Foundry Documentation
Focus areas:
- Model catalog
- Prompt flow
- Agent Service
- Evaluation tools
- Deployment patterns
D. Semantic Kernel GitHub Samples
Hands‑on practice with:
- Planners
- Skills
- Connectors
- Multi‑agent orchestration
E. Build Practical Mini‑Projects
To internalize the concepts, I’m building:
- A multi‑agent research assistant
- A tool‑calling enterprise agent
- A workflow‑orchestration agent using SK
F. Review Build & Ignite Sessions
These sessions contain early previews of Microsoft’s agentic architecture.
5. Suggested Learning Plan for Other AI‑103 Candidates
If you’re also preparing for AI‑103, here’s a simple, effective path:
- Start with the official syllabus
- Complete the self‑paced modules
- Learn Azure AI Foundry basics
- Build a single agent with Azure AI Agent Service
- Deep‑dive into Semantic Kernel
- Create a multi‑agent solution
- Practice tool integration (including MCP)
- Use Azure’s evaluation tools
- Monitor Microsoft Learn for new content
This sequence mirrors both the training and the exam structure.
Closing Thoughts
The March 19 training was a strong introduction to Microsoft’s agentic AI stack and a helpful starting point for AI‑103 beta preparation. With the syllabus now available, I’ve updated my study plan to align with Microsoft’s official direction.
I’ll continue sharing updates as I progress through the learning materials and as Microsoft releases more content leading up to the exam.
The post Building Agentic AI Solutions with Azure AI Foundry — My Training Day Review & Updated AI‑103 Study Plan appeared first on Behind the Build.
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