Tool Use (AI)

What Is Tool Use (AI)?

Tool use is the gateway between language models (which generate text) and real-world action. Language models by themselves can't access the internet, query databases, or call APIs—they can only generate text. Tool use capabilities allow models to request these actions, and your application executes them. This transforms language models from information processors to active agents.

Tool use works through a cycle: the model generates a request to use a tool (with parameters), your application executes the tool, the model receives the result, and generates the next request or final answer. For example, a research agent might use search tools, database tools, and document analysis tools in sequence to answer a complex question.

Tool use is essential for building practical AI agents. Without tool use, models can only generate information based on their training data—useful for explaining concepts, writing content, etc. With tool use, models can access current information, execute business logic, and take real actions in the world.