Study AIP-C01 agentic AI for memory, state, MCP, tool boundaries, approvals, and multi-step orchestration.
Agent questions on AIP-C01 are usually workflow questions. The real issue is whether the system should plan, keep state, choose tools, and wait for approval, not whether the FM can produce polished text.
The current AIP-C01 domain page focuses this task on agentic solutions and tool integrations. The recurring exam patterns include:
That means the exam wants controlled automation, not unconstrained autonomy.
| Requirement | Strongest first fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Need dynamic tool choice across multiple steps | Agent workflow with scoped tools and workflow state | The system must reason about actions, not only generate text |
| Need stable deterministic process | Simpler orchestration without full agent autonomy | Agents are overkill when the flow is fixed |
| Need conversational continuity only | Session memory without full workflow state | Memory and workflow state are different requirements |
| Need external tool access safely | Narrow tool permissions, validation, and approval boundaries | Tool use is the main operational risk |
| Need extensible tool connectivity | MCP-style structured tool interface | Tool contracts should be explicit and governable |
This distinction creates many distractors.
| Concern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| memory | what prior user or session context still matters |
| workflow state | what step has run, what tool returned, and what remains to happen |
Some systems need both. Some need only one.
Use an agent pattern when the application must:
If none of that is true, a deterministic prompt chain or workflow is often stronger.
The model should not get unconstrained authority. Strong answers usually include:
If an answer says “let the agent call internal systems” without any of those controls, it is usually weak.
When the exam hints at many external tools or extensible tool ecosystems, the strongest pattern usually uses a structured tool interface rather than ad hoc prompt glue. The value is not fashion. The value is:
When the requirement is plan, branch, act, and remember state, an agent may be justified. Otherwise start with the simplest orchestration that works.