⬡ Overview
◈ Concepts
↻ Agent Loop
⌖ Architecture
⚑ Failure Modes
◇ Knowledge Check
★ Results
0 / 5
Hands-On Lab  ·  Module 2  ·  BAA 2.0

Anatomy of
an Agent

Go beyond the buzzword. Dissect the exact architecture that separates real autonomous agents from AI wrappers — and learn to spot design failures before they ship.

Learning Objectives
01
Identify all five criteria that define a true AI agent — and apply the test to real systems.
02
Sequence the iterative agent loop and explain what the agent is doing at each step.
03
Map descriptions to the four internal architecture layers of a modern AI agent.
04
Diagnose the four most common agent design failure modes and their prevention strategies.
Your Lab Roadmap
1
The 5-Point Agent Test
Drag behaviors into Agent vs. Not Agent — all five criteria must be met
2
The Agent Loop
Sequence the 5 iterative steps that create autonomy
3
Architecture Layers
LLM · Tool · Memory · Control — match descriptions to layers
4
Failure Mode Diagnosis
Drag 12 symptoms into the 4 failure categories
5
Knowledge Check
7 questions · core anatomy concepts · 70% to pass
—
Your Results
Score breakdown · key takeaways
Section 01

The 5-Point Agent Test

A true agent satisfies ALL five criteria: Goal · Perception · Reasoning · Action · Feedback. Drag each behavior into the correct column.

💡 Key principle: Without ALL five elements, it is not an agent — it's an assistant or an automation.
Unclassified — drag to classify
🤖  True Agent — passes all 5
Drop agent behaviors here
💬  Not a True Agent — missing ≥1
Drop non-agent behaviors here
On mobile? Tap to classify
Section 02

The Agent Loop

Autonomy requires iteration — not a single pass. Drag or use the arrows to put the five steps in the correct order.

💡 Think: what must the agent know before it can decide? What happens right after it acts?
Section 03

Architecture Layers

Every modern agent is built from four layers. For each layer, select all descriptions that belong to it — some options are distractors from other layers.

Section 04

Failure Mode Diagnosis

Drag each symptom into the failure mode it belongs to. Tap a header to reveal the prevention strategy.

⚠️ 4 Failure Modes: Goal Misalignment · Over-Reliance on LLM · Lack of Guardrails · No Evaluation Framework
Undiagnosed symptoms — drag to assign
On mobile? Tap to assign
Section 05

Knowledge Check

Test your understanding. You need 70% or higher to mark this section complete.

Question 1 of 7Score: 0 / 0
Your Results

Lab Complete