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.

Get Quote & Book Download Overview (PDF)

Tech Stack

AI Agents Tool Calling @Tool Spring AI Automation Java

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.

Connect on LinkedIn

Java • Spring Boot • Spring AI

Enterprise teams trained by Actlea

Participant Reviews

What past participants say

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

"Andreas is an excellent teacher who shows great competence in system development with Java and has developed an effective and engaging curriculum. He is an experienced system developer with broad knowledge of the Java ecosystem and he provides valuable feedback that helps students grow and develop as programmers. Andreas also encourages independent and creative thinking for students. I highly recommend Andreas to anyone looking for a high-quality education in Java development."

"Andreas is a fantastic teacher! In addition to the fact that I experienced him as competent with a solid knowledge of his subjects, he really excels as an educator. Regardless of who you are or what level of knowledge you are at, Andreas always responds to one's questions with commitment, curiosity and a positive attitude that is contagious. Above all, I appreciated that he both gave me space to explore solutions myself and think creatively, while he was always there to contribute his support. I highly recommend Andreas!"

"I recently had the pleasure of being a student of Andreas and I cannot speak highly enough of his skill and professionalism. Throughout the training, Andreas demonstrated a deep understanding of Java programming and was able to convey complex concepts in a way that was easy to understand. His ability to break down difficult topics and explain them in a clear and concise manner was truly remarkable. Overall, I would highly recommend Andreas as a teacher of Java programming. His skill and professionalism make him an exceptional educator, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him. If you are looking for a teacher who is knowledgeable, patient and passionate about teaching, Andreas is the perfect choice."

"I had the honor of having Andreas as a teacher during a 12 week Java program for Brights. During these weeks we learned the basics of Java but also more advanced Java. Would really recommend Andreas for the great competence he possesses but also for his patience. He always answered the questions that we students had and was very patient when required. Andreas always has a smile on his face and he is passionate about teaching, which you can clearly see. I always felt safe talking to Andreas when I needed help and he was always there to support. He is simply one of the best teachers I have ever had!"

"Andreas is a very positive and easy-going individual, but above all a fantastic educator. His teaching method and structure is adapted for everyone from beginners to experienced participants. Quick to provide personal assistance, called up on video chat and took his time. I appreciated all the Java days, I am so satisfied and grateful with the foundation I got with me. Strongly recommend. Rating 5 out of 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

"During the 12-week intensive training in Java at Academy, Andreas trained me primarily in Spring Boot and the connection between databases and web applications via JDBC and JPA. Andreas showed advanced competence in the field, patience and good teaching ability."

"It is clear that Andreas has a great passion and a genuine interest in the success of his students. He has really influenced and inspired me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

"Andreas is a very good teacher who has all the expertise and methodology to teach java to a beginner. The course content is solid, up-to-date and the program structure is easy to follow. Learning by doing is the hallmark of the course. I became a true admirer of the Java expertise of Andreas during our final project where he magically comes and solves our problems."

"In all my years at school, I have never met a teacher who treated his students with as much patience and joy as Andreas did. His commitment to us felt very genuine, and it was clear that he was the right person in the right place. I am very glad we had him as a teacher during our 12 weeks at Brights."

"Andreas is a knowledgeable, patient and pedagogical teacher with a fantastic ability to meet all students individually. In addition, with an incredible enthusiasm and optimism that rubs off on the whole group!"

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