Welcome to another exciting session from Coding Night New Zealand! On Easter Monday, April 21st, we explored one of the most innovative AI frameworks from Microsoft: AutoGen. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about building intelligent multi-agent systems using this cutting-edge framework.
What Are AI Agents?
AI agents are systems that enable Large Language Models (LLMs) to perform actions by extending their capabilities through:
Access to Tools: Functions that enable API queries and specific logic for solving particular problems
Access to Knowledge: Information available from databases, user preferences, or external sources
Unlike traditional chatbots that simply respond to queries, AI agents are autonomous systems with full understanding of their environments and available resources.
Key Characteristics of AI Agents
Autonomous Operation: They can make decisions independently
Tool Integration: Extend LLM capabilities with external functions
Knowledge Access: Leverage contextual information for better responses
Environmental Awareness: Understand their operational context
When to Use AI Agents
AI agents excel in several scenarios:
✅ Open-Ended Problems
Multiple solutions or no clear single answer
Complex, multi-step processes
Problems requiring iterative refinement
✅ Multi-Step Processes
Breaking large problems into smaller pieces
Sequential workflow execution
Task orchestration and coordination
✅ Continuous Improvement
Learning from feedback loops
Knowledge accumulation over time
Adaptive problem-solving approaches
Introducing AutoGen
AutoGen is Microsoft’s open-source framework for building AI agents and applications, developed by the Microsoft Research AI Frontiers Lab.
Primary Use Cases
Prototyping and Experimentation: Rapid development of agent-based systems
Simplified Implementation: Focus on goals rather than technical complexity
fromautogen_agentchatimportConversableAgentfromopenaiimportAzureOpenAI# Initialize LLM clientclient=AzureOpenAI(azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),api_key=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_KEY"),api_version="2024-02-15-preview")# Define specialized agentsconcept_extractor=ConversableAgent(name="concept_extractor",system_message="""You are a marketing analyst. Given a product description,
identify key features, target audience, and unique selling points.""",llm_config={"model":"gpt-4","client":client})copywriter=ConversableAgent(name="copywriter",system_message="""You are a marketing copywriter. Create compelling
marketing copy from the provided analysis.""",llm_config={"model":"gpt-4","client":client})editor=ConversableAgent(name="editor",system_message="""You are an editor. Improve grammar, clarity,
and polish the provided text.""",llm_config={"model":"gpt-4","client":client})# Create workflowproduct_description="Eco-friendly stainless steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold for 24 hours"result=concept_extractor.initiate_chat(copywriter,message=product_description)
fromautogen_agentchatimportGroupChat,GroupChatManager# Define specialized travel agentsplanner_agent=ConversableAgent(name="planner",system_message="""You are a travel planner. Create detailed itineraries
with activities, timing, and logistics.""")local_agent=ConversableAgent(name="local_expert",system_message="""You are a local expert. Suggest authentic local
activities, restaurants, and cultural experiences.""")language_agent=ConversableAgent(name="language_helper",system_message="""You are a language assistant. Provide useful phrases
and cultural tips for the destination.""")summary_agent=ConversableAgent(name="summarizer",system_message="""Compile all suggestions into a comprehensive travel plan.
When complete, respond with TERMINATE.""")# Create group chat with round-robin selectiongroup_chat=GroupChat(agents=[planner_agent,local_agent,language_agent,summary_agent],messages=[],max_round=10,speaker_selection_method="round_robin")manager=GroupChatManager(groupchat=group_chat)# Start planning sessionuser_proxy.initiate_chat(manager,message="Plan a 3-day trip to Auckland, New Zealand")
Advanced Use Cases
1. Web Scraping with Magentic One
AutoGen can perform autonomous web scraping tasks:
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fromautogen_magentic_oneimportMagenticOneGroupChat# Initialize web surfer agentweb_surfer=MagenticOneGroupChat(model_client=openai_client,task="How full are the Auckland dam levels in April 2025?")# Execute web researchresult=awaitweb_surfer.run()
Capabilities:
Automatic search query generation
Multi-source data extraction
Intelligent link following
Content summarization
2. Development Team Simulation
Create a virtual development team with specialized roles:
# Define development team agentsdeveloper=ConversableAgent(name="developer",system_message="""You are a senior developer. Write clean, efficient code
and provide implementation solutions.""")tester=ConversableAgent(name="tester",system_message="""You are a QA engineer. Create comprehensive test cases
and validate implementations.""")tech_lead=ConversableAgent(name="tech_lead",system_message="""You are a technical lead. Review code, provide feedback,
and ensure best practices. Create documentation.""")# Task: Convert .NET Web API to Python FastAPItask="""Convert the .NET 8 Web API project in the current directory
to a Python FastAPI implementation with equivalent functionality."""group_chat=GroupChat(agents=[developer,tester,tech_lead])result=manager.initiate_chat(group_chat,message=task)
Best Practices and Considerations
1. Prompt Engineering
Provide Clear Boundaries: Prevent agents from going off-track
Define Termination Conditions: Use “TERMINATE” or “FINISH” keywords
Specify Role Constraints: Clearly define what each agent should/shouldn’t do
2. Resource Management
Monitor Token Usage: Long conversations can be expensive
Set Execution Timeouts: Prevent infinite loops
Use Controlled Environments: Especially for web-enabled agents
3. Security Considerations
Sandbox Execution: Use containers for file system operations
Network Restrictions: Control internet access for web agents
Input Validation: Sanitize user inputs and agent communications
# Automated content creation workflowresearcher=ConversableAgent(name="researcher",system_message="Research topics thoroughly")writer=ConversableAgent(name="writer",system_message="Create engaging content")editor=ConversableAgent(name="editor",system_message="Refine and polish content")seo_optimizer=ConversableAgent(name="seo",system_message="Optimize for search engines")
Data Analysis Workflow
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# Automated data analysis pipeline data_collector=ConversableAgent(name="collector",system_message="Gather and clean data")analyst=ConversableAgent(name="analyst",system_message="Perform statistical analysis")visualizer=ConversableAgent(name="visualizer",system_message="Create compelling visualizations")reporter=ConversableAgent(name="reporter",system_message="Generate executive summaries")
Getting Started
Installation
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# Install AutoGen Agent Chat (recommended for most use cases)pip install autogen-agentchat
# Install AutoGen Core (for advanced/low-level development)pip install autogen-core
# Install AutoGen Extensions (for additional capabilities)pip install autogen-ext
# For all AutoGen componentspip install autogen-agentchat autogen-core autogen-ext
Basic Setup
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importosfromautogen_agentchatimportConversableAgentfromopenaiimportAzureOpenAI# Configure your LLM clientclient=AzureOpenAI(azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),api_key=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_KEY"),api_version="2024-02-15-preview")# Create your first agentassistant=ConversableAgent(name="assistant",system_message="You are a helpful AI assistant.",llm_config={"model":"gpt-4","client":client})
Performance Considerations
Execution Times
Based on real testing:
Simple workflows: 1-2 minutes
Complex multi-agent tasks: 15-20 minutes
Web scraping operations: 20+ minutes
Development tasks: 15+ minutes
Cost Management
Monitor token usage across all agents
Use smaller models (GPT-4 Mini) for simpler tasks
Implement conversation length limits
Cache frequently used responses
Conclusion
AutoGen represents a significant advancement in AI agent frameworks, offering:
✅ Simplified Development: Focus on problem-solving rather than technical implementation ✅ Flexible Architecture: From simple agents to complex multi-agent systems ✅ Rich Ecosystem: Extensive tools and community support ✅ Production Ready: Event-driven architecture for scalable applications
Key Takeaways
Start Simple: Begin with basic agents and gradually add complexity
Design for Collaboration: Think about how agents will communicate
Control Execution: Always include termination conditions
Monitor Performance: Track costs and execution times
Security First: Use controlled environments for production deployments
The future of AI applications lies in collaborative, specialized agents working together to solve complex problems. AutoGen provides the foundation to build these sophisticated systems today.
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