gilmurray

How to Build an Agent is not a book about experimenting with AI.

It is a practical playbook for leaders who need AI systems that actually work in the real world.

Most organisations now use generative AI in some form. Very few see meaningful business results.

This book explains why.

Written for executives, senior managers, consultants, and technical leaders, How to Build an Agent shows how to move beyond chatbots and prompts and into autonomous, outcome driven AI systems that plan, act, integrate with enterprise software, and deliver measurable return.

You will learn how modern AI agents really work, how they differ from traditional automation, and how to design them safely, economically, and at scale. The focus is not on theory or hype. It is on decisions, architecture, governance, and execution.

This is a guide to building digital workers that can operate inside real organisations.

Inside the book, you will learn:

- What agentic AI actually is, and why most companies misunderstand it

- The difference between chatbots, workflows, and true autonomous agents

- How memory, retrieval, and reasoning change what AI systems can do

- How to design agents that work across CRM, ERP, email, and data platforms

- When to build, when to buy, and when a hybrid approach makes sense

- How to govern AI safely with auditability, controls, and human oversight

- How to measure ROI in a way that boards and finance teams respect

- How to run a four week pilot that produces decision grade evidence

- How to scale from a single agent to coordinated multi agent systems

- How to avoid the common failure patterns that cause most AI projects to stall

The book includes real architectural patterns, decision frameworks, implementation checklists, and ready to use templates. These include a business case template, a pilot programme charter, an agent readiness assessment, and role definitions for emerging AI leadership positions.

You do not need to be a software engineer to use this book.

You do need to be responsible for outcomes.

If you are a leader who is tired of AI demos that never make it into production, this book will give you a clear, structured path forward.

AI adoption is no longer the challenge.

Leading AI is.

How to Build an Agent is the field manual for doing exactly that.