Ultimate AI Agent Development with Semantic Kernel

The Future of Software Is Agentic. Learn to Build It.

Key Features
● Get a free one-month digital subscription to www.avaskillshelf.com.
● Comprehensive Semantic Kernel coverage from core AI concepts to agent orchestration and enterprise deployment.
● Hands-on AI agent development using plugins, planning, memory, and observability patterns across real-world scenarios.
● Production-ready AI application engineering covering RAG pipelines, grounding, chatbot development, and enterprise-grade scalability.

Book Description
The Future Belongs to Engineers Who Can Build AI Agents That Think Beyond Prompts

AI agents are replacing static features as the foundation of modern enterprise applications. Ultimate AI Agent Development with Semantic Kernel gives you a comprehensive, hands-on guide to building production-ready AI agent applications using Microsoft Semantic Kernel, from core concepts and prompt engineering to enterprise-grade deployment.

You begin with the fundamentals of large language models and AI-first development, then progressively advance through agent design patterns, plugin architecture, prompt templates, planning, memory, and orchestration. Every concept is grounded in practical implementation, building toward real-world applications including chatbots, automation systems, and retrieval-augmented generation pipelines that solve actual enterprise problems.

The final section addresses enterprise readiness, observability, the Semantic Kernel roadmap, and future trends in agentic AI systems. Thus, by the end of the book, you will design, build, and deploy intelligent AI agent applications with confidence.

What you will learn
● Build production-ready AI agent applications using the Microsoft Semantic Kernel framework.
● Apply prompt engineering techniques to design effective agentic workflows and interactions.
● Design AI-first application architectures using scalable patterns and enterprise best practices.
● Implement plugins, planning strategies, and agent orchestration for complex AI workflows.
● Develop enterprise-ready AI systems with memory, observability, and production deployment patterns.
● Build real-world applications including chatbots, automation systems, and RAG-powered solutions.

1. Introduction to AI-Powered Applications
2. Prompt Engineering in Agentic Applications
3. AI-First Development
4. Building Blocks for Agentic Applications
5. Introduction to Microsoft Semantic Kernel
6. Creating Our First Agent
7. Deep Dive into Plugins, Prompt Templates, and Planning
8. Semantic Kernel Agent Framework
9. Developing an Enterprise-Ready App
10. Building Real-World Applications
11. Semantic Kernel Roadmap and Ecosystem
12. Future Trends in AI and Agentic Systems
Credits
Index

About the Author
Rajesh Nayak is a technology leader and AI product strategist with over 25 years of global experience across enterprise software and SaaS. An INSEAD MBA graduate, he specializes in AI-first products and agent-driven applications that deliver real business value.


About the Technical Reviewer
Sameer Bhanushali is a seasoned IT and cybersecurity professional with deep expertise in Identity and Access Management (IAM), security architecture, and enterprise risk mitigation. As an IAM Architect, Sameer has successfully designed and implemented scalable, secure, and compliant identity solutions that enable organizations to protect critical assets, while supporting business agility.

With hands-on experience across diverse industries, Sameer has been instrumental in strengthening security postures by aligning technology, governance, and best practices. His work spans IAM strategy, zero trust principles, access governance, authentication and authorization frameworks, and cloud and hybrid security architectures. He is known for translating complex security challenges into practical, business-aligned solutions.

Sameer holds advanced certifications in IAM and cybersecurity, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and staying ahead of an ever-evolving threat landscape. Beyond implementation, he actively contributes through thought leadership, mentoring, and collaboration, helping organizations adopt modern security models that safeguard sensitive data and meet regulatory requirements.