spring ai

Spring AI: Agents & Tools Foundations

Give your AI the power to act. Learn to implement Tool Calling with the @Tool annotation and build agents that perform tasks in Java.

Expected Outcome

The ability to use the @Tool annotation to safely expose Java logic and build agents that make decisions and perform actions.

Target Audience

Java developers looking to move from passive chats to active services that can use Java methods as tools in their systems.

Prerequisites

Experience with Spring AI equivalent to 'Spring AI Jumpstart: Professional' is required to handle Tool Calling logic.

Curriculum & Highlights

Tool Calling & @Tool Annotation
Declarative Tool Definitions
Multi-step Agent Reasoning
Tool Metadata & @ToolParam
ChatClient Tool Integration
Bean-based Tool Resolution
Tool Selection Logic
Agent State & Feedback Loops

Challenges we address

"How do I use the @Tool annotation to expose my Java code to a language model?"

"How do I describe my methods and parameters so the AI agent understands exactly how to use them?"

"How do I handle complex flows where the AI needs to invoke multiple different tools to solve a task?"

Detailed Description
A standard chat AI is limited to its training data, but agents can actively interact with their surrounding systems. Using Tool Calling (formerly known as Function Calling), the AI model gains the ability to independently choose and invoke the right Java method to retrieve real-time data or execute changes within your application. This workshop teaches the foundations of creating these actionable agents in Spring AI through Active Learning. We focus on the modern, declarative way of working with AI tools through annotations. The goal is to provide the team with a clear structure for bridging the gap between the language model's reasoning and your existing codebase in a way that is both secure and maintainable. We explore how to define and register tools using the @Tool annotation directly on our Java methods. We learn to use @ToolParam to describe input data in a way the LLM understands, minimizing the risk of incorrect calls. During the day, we build agents capable of multi-step reasoning, where the model independently decides when it needs to invoke a tool to complete a task. We also address the importance of clear method descriptions, as these instructions govern the model's ability to choose the right tool at the right time. Actlea's core philosophy is that the power of AI lies in its ability to act, but responsibility always remains with the code. Experience shows that the @Tool annotation is the single most important key to making AI integrations understandable for Java developers. A key insight for modern teams is that agents do not replace logic—they use it. This workshop provides the foundation for transforming your AI from an advisor into an active participant in your business processes on the Java platform.
Recommendation & Next Steps

Empower your agents with your company's own data by moving on to: 'Enterprise RAG with Spring AI'.

Format Workshop
Duration 1 day
Level Professional
Instructor Andreas Olsson
Price per group $2,900

Standard price per group (up to 12 participants) for remote delivery. Additional costs apply for onsite delivery.

Tech Stack
AI Agents Tool Calling @Tool Spring AI Automation Java
Andreas Olsson

Your Instructor

Andreas Olsson

Expertise through Active Learning

Java and the Spring Framework have been my core focus for over 20 years. Today, my mission is primarily to help organizations step into the future by integrating intelligent agents and AI-driven features into modern Java systems.

Actlea stands for Active Learning – the philosophy that programming is best learned by writing code, not by watching slides. My workshops focus on intensive, hands-on exercises designed to solve real-world problems.

I deliver proven training concepts globally across all timezones. While I specialize in remote delivery, I love to travel for onsite workshops. My modules are ready for immediate impact but can be tailored to your team's specific requirements.

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Enterprise teams trained by Actlea

Academic Work
Handelsbanken
Scania
Swedbank
CGI
SEB
Participant Reviews

What past participants say

Read about the pedagogical approach, the hands-on labs, and the impact on daily work.

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team's expertise?

Book a single workshop, combine modules into a package, or plan a full-scale bootcamp. My training is built on proven standard modules, ready to be delivered immediately to your team, regardless of your location.

  • Expert standard modules for senior teams
  • Global delivery across all time zones
  • Fixed group rate for up to 12 participants (remote)
  • Flexible delivery: Remote or On-site

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