🚀 Leveling Up Your AI Agents: A Story-Driven Guide to MCP Tools, Resources, Prompts, and Logging

AI copilots are getting smarter. They can chat, reason, and even follow complex instructions. But if you want your AI to actually do something useful, like trigger a function, fetch some data, or keep a log of what happened, you need more than just prompts. You need structure and you need context. You need something like the Model Context Protocol (MCP). In this post, I’ll walk you through MCP’s four core capabilities (tools, resources, prompts, logging) using a fun story about Contextia, an AI copilot assisting Commander Alex on their ship. I put this together because when I first started […]

AI Repo of the Week: Generative AI for Beginners with JavaScript

A fun, hands-on learning journey that teaches JavaScript developers how to build AI-powered apps using generative AI and large language models. Introduction Ready to explore the fascinating world of Generative AI using your JavaScript skills? This week’s featured repository, Generative AI for Beginners with JavaScript, is your launchpad into the future of application development. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your AI toolbox, this open-source GitHub resource offers a rich, hands-on journey. It includes interactive lessons, quizzes, and even time-travel storytelling featuring historical legends like Leonardo da Vinci and Ada Lovelace. Each chapter combines narrative-driven learning with practical […]

AI Repo of the Week: MCP for Beginners

Introduction Welcome to this week’s spotlight in our AI Repo of the Week series—introducing the “MCP for Beginners” course, a fantastic starting point for AI developers and enthusiasts eager to navigate the world of Model Context Protocol (MCP). This open-source GitHub repository offers an in-depth exploration of MCP, an interface designed to extend the capabilities of AI models by integrating them with external tools, APIs, and data sources. Whether you’re new to MCP or looking to strengthen your understanding, this comprehensive resource is a perfect fit. The repository provides practical lessons and examples that guide developers through creating MCP servers […]

AI Repo of the Week: GitHub Copilot Adventures

Welcome to the AI Repo of the Week series! In this first post we’re going to look at the GitHub Copilot Adventures repo. Stay tuned for additional posts that cover AI-related repos across multiple languages and technologies. GitHub Copilot Adventures Kickstart your GitHub Copilot journey with GitHub Copilot Adventures, a hands-on playground of “choose-your-own-adventure” coding challenges. In just a few minutes, you’ll go from predicting the next number in a sequence to simulating interstellar alignments, all guided by GitHub Copilot’s AI suggestions. Whether you’re brand new to Copilot or looking to level up your AI-paired programming skills, this repo offers […]

Building a Marvel MCP Server with External APIs

Image from the Marvel Developers API Summary Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP) Ever wish your AI assistant could tap into external APIs, fetch live data, or interact with tools beyond its built-in knowledge? That’s exactly what the Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables. MCP is a standardized way for AI systems to discover available tools, send them inputs, and get back results in a consistent format. It’s a powerful way to extend what AI can do—especially for things like making API calls or querying databases, which models can’t do on their own. Think of it as the Rosetta Stone between […]

Using RealTime AI – Part 1: Getting Started with the Fundamentals of Low-Latency AI Magic

Have you ever wished your AI could keep up with you—like, actually match your pace? You know, the kind of speed where you toss out a question and get a snappy reply before you’ve even blinked twice? Enter Realtime AI—a total game-changer that I’ll have to admit had me grinning like I had just unlocked a secret superpower the first time I got it running. In this first installment of the RealTime AI series, I’ll break down what Realtime AI is for you, why it’s awesome, and provide you with a first look at the RealTime AI App—a fun demo […]

AI Time-Travel: Your JavaScript Quest Begins!

Generative AI for Beginners – A JavaScript Adventure. Code with Legends, Conquer the Future! Imagine sipping espresso with Leonardo da Vinci, debating AI over sketches of flying machines. Or quizzing Ada Lovelace on code in her misty mansion. The Generative AI for Beginners – A JavaScript Adventure course (free on GitHub!) blends time-traveling thrills with hands-on JavaScript AI concepts. No time machine required—just curiosity and a keyboard! Generative AI is the secret sauce behind next-level chatbots, content wizards, and modern apps. For JavaScript devs, it’s your ticket to crafting smarter and more productive apps for users. This course? It’s your […]

What are Some Good Generative AI Prompt Engineering Resources?

One AI question I get a lot is, “What are some good prompt engineering resources?”. Here are a few I’ve found useful: âś… OpenAI Prompt Engineering Documentationâś… Azure OpenAI: Introduction to Prompt Engineeringâś… Prompt Engineering Guideâś… AI Builder Prompt Engineering Guide (PDF)âś… DeepLearning.AI: ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developersâś… Brex’s Prompt Engineering Guide There are many more out there, but these will help get you started. If you have a favorite, please add a comment so others can see it too. If you want to start using prompts in different Generative AI scenarios and learn more about AI building blocks in general, check out: âś… OpenAI Cookbook (examples […]

Video: Taking Your Line of Business Apps to the Next Level with OpenAI and GPT Models, Communication and Organizational Data

I had the incredible opportunity to grace the stage at the 2023 ng-conf conference in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah this past June. Every year, I look forward to this event, and it’s not just because of the scenic views or the pristine organization of the conference. The magic truly lies in the amazing people I get to chat with and the new friendships I forge. If you’re after a blend of fun, entertainment, and education, ng-conf is the place to be. Plus, let’s not forget the golden opportunity it provides to expand your network. This year, I talked about […]

The ABCs of AI Transformers, Tokens, and Embeddings: A LEGO Story

Introduction AI transformers have rapidly become one of the most popular and effective architectures in natural language processing and artificial intelligence. But what exactly are transformers, and how do they leverage embeddings to achieve state-of-the-art results on tasks like translation and text generation? In this post, I’ll attempt to demystify tokens, embedding, and transformers by unveiling the magic behind their near-human linguistic abilities using a simple analogy – language is like LEGOs! While the overall goal is to introduce you to the key concepts, you’ll find additional links at the bottom of the post that will allow you to dive […]