“Dialogue is a space where we can see the assumptions that divide us.” David Bohm

Hands-on, Human-first, Agent-ready.

This is the practical starting point—ideal for those ready to build. Participants will leave with a simple but powerful AI agent designed with purpose.

Welcome to the Foundations Lab

This is your hands-on intro to building your first AI agent using Poe—no code required. By the end of this module, you’ll have your own working prototype, a better understanding of agent behavior, and a basic understanding of how to teach it useful context.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• What AI agents are and why they matter
• Basics of prompt engineering
• The anatomy of an agent (identity, behavior, logic)
• How to build your first agent on Poe
• How to test and iterate on your agent
• BONUS: How to integrate your agent into your site or workflow

🛠️ Step 1: What is an AI Agent?

Think of an AI agent like a persona that has:

• A job to do
• A personality