Future Interfaces: AI Agents
Design, prototype, and evaluate autonomous AI agents that meet the real world. Start working in multidisciplinary teams at the course hackathon, develop your solutions throughout the course, and present your solutions at the community event.
Course Description
The AI Agents course prepares you to design intelligent systems that operate beyond the confines of a screen. An AI agent is a program that can perform tasks autonomously for a user or another program; the hard part is making that autonomy work amid human needs and the messy constraints of the physical world. You'll study this interface between code and reality, learning how environmental complexity limits what agents can perceive and do.
From day one, you collaborate in multidisciplinary teams—bringing together design sensitivity, technical depth, and business thinking. The course launches with an industry hackathon on Fri-Sat, 24-25 Oct (starts Friday afternoon, ends Saturday afternoon). Teams then develop concepts or prototypes that consider technology, user experience, and commercialization, practicing critical evaluation throughout. The course culminates in a community event where guests and company representatives come to see your solutions and pitches.
Credits & timing: 3 ECTS in Period II, with weekly sessions Thursdays 14:15-15:45. Who should apply: Master's and PhD students from any field with basic knowledge and interest in AI applications—and a willingness to collaborate across disciplines. Ready to design and build tomorrow's intelligent systems? Check the MyCourses and Sisu pages for exact details and register now!
Three reasons to take the course
From the course assistant's perspective: here's why it's a great course and why you should definitely join.
Gain real industry insight and experience
This course includes theory but is very hands-on. You'll dive straight into projects shaped by real companies. By the end of the course, you'll have a solid overview of how AI Agents are being used and understood in industry today.
Grow through collaboration and have fun while at it
The course is open to students from all schools at Aalto. You'll form teams with motivated people from different backgrounds: design, technology, business, and build something cool together.
Learn with great support
It's rare to find a course with this much teaching power behind it: six dedicated teachers plus a course assistant. We are able to provide you with guidance when you need it, and we truly want to make this course a success for every student.