Mastering AI Agents in CSE 291 with Video Tutorials
AI agents—sounds futuristic, right? Like something straight out of a sci-fi movie where robots do your chores, walk your dog, and even remind you where you left your keys. Well, that’s pretty much their essence, though powered by cutting-edge technology.
If you’re diving into CSE 291 – AI Agents at UC San Diego or elsewhere, you’ve probably noticed that textbooks alone don’t make the cut. Luckily, there’s a wealth of engaging video resources online that break down these complex AI agents into digestible insights. No heavy reading—just impactful knowledge (and maybe some popcorn).
What Exactly Are AI Agents?
Before you zone out expecting a dry definition, let me clarify: AI agents aren’t ordinary chatbots spewing canned lines or simple calculators crunching numbers. They’re more like the Swiss Army knives of artificial intelligence.
Picture a system that not only answers questions but perceives its environment, reasons about its next moves (kind of like a more efficient version of us deciding what to eat), autonomously makes decisions, and acts to accomplish goals. They combine large language models like ChatGPT, tools, memory modules, strategic planning, and sometimes collaborate with other agents to tackle serious tasks.
Still with me? Great! Because CSE 291 focuses on building and understanding these versatile, intelligent AI agents.
Top Video Resources for Learning About AI Agents
1. AI Agents, Clearly Explained (April 2025)
Length: ~10 minutes
This video offers the perfect elevator pitch on AI agents—short, punchy, and informative without feeling like a traditional lecture. Starting with language models like ChatGPT, it progresses to how agents perform tasks using advanced methods like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and ReAct prompting. Plus, real-world examples make the concepts crystal clear.
Watch here
2. Full Course: AI Agents for Beginners (March 2025)
Length: ~1 hour
For those eager to binge comprehensive content on AI agents, this course covers everything from the basics to designing workflows and managing multiple collaborating agents. It includes practical advice on tools and memory—all essential for mastering AI agents.
Full course here
3. AI Agents Fundamentals in 21 Minutes
Length: 21 minutes
Pressed for time? This concise crash course distills the essentials of AI agents—their nature, functioning, and role within AI ecosystems—perfect to power you up before exams or practical AI projects.
Quick overview
4. AI Agents Crash Course
Length: ~15-20 minutes
Another fantastic crash course highlighting how AI agents operate, their benefits, and exciting use cases that might just inspire you to get your own AI sidekick.
Watch here
Insights Into CSE 291 – AI Agents at UC San Diego
This course takes you on a thrilling journey through the AI agent landscape with lectures, projects, and research discussions covering:
- Language model-based agent architectures—the cognitive core
- Design patterns for agent tools and workflows—how to orchestrate intelligent agents
- Memory systems enabling agents to recall past events
- Multi-agent collaboration and ethical safeguards to prevent rogue AI
There’s no official textbook but an abundance of peer-reviewed papers, open-source code, and slide decks—including introductory content like “What is an Agent?” The PEARLS Lab offers an excellent open repository to support self-study or to deepen your grasp of CSE 291 topics.
Explore PEARLS Lab resources
Why Video Learning Is Essential for CSE 291 Students
Why rely on videos instead of just slides or code? Because CSE 291 isn’t your average AI course—it resembles climbing a neural network mountain. Videos help you:
- Visualize abstract concepts like agent reasoning loops through animations and diagrams
- Follow live coding sessions and demos to understand agent development and debugging
- Gain insights from guest talks by industry experts like Dr. Angela Jiang
- Learn at your own pace by pausing, rewinding, or binge-watching complex topics
Interested in expert insights? Check out Angela Jiang’s 2020 talk here.
Additional Useful Resources
- PEARLS Lab AI Agents course materials (slides, papers, lectures): pearls-lab.github.io/ai-agents-course
- UCSD CSE 291 official course page (syllabus, updates): cseweb.ucsd.edu/~yiying/cse291a-fall25
- GitHub CS video collections repository (extra AI courses): GitHub CS Video Courses
Summary and Next Steps
AI agents might seem intimidating at first, but with the curated video resources, CSE 291 materials, and a bit of determination, these advanced concepts become approachable—and even exciting.
For success in CSE 291:
- Begin with beginner-friendly videos to build firm foundations
- Dive into PEARLS Lab slides for deeper theory
- Explore research papers to engage with cutting-edge developments
- Develop your own simple AI agents to move from learner to creator
And yes, these skills will be tested. So, start watching, start coding, and may your AI agents always perform just as intended—unless you want them to surprise you!
Happy learning! 🤖✨
