- Do I need to fine-tune models to use agent frameworks?
- No, most frameworks work with pre-trained models via API (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini) and rely on prompt engineering and in-context learning. Fine-tuning is optional and typically reserved for domain-specific behaviors or cost optimization after validating the agent architecture.
- How do agent frameworks handle hallucinations and incorrect tool calls?
- Frameworks implement validation layers, retry logic, and structured output parsing to catch malformed responses. Many include human-in-the-loop checkpoints for high-stakes decisions and logging systems to identify patterns in agent failures for prompt refinement.
- What are the typical costs of running production agents?
- Costs depend on LLM provider pricing, token usage per task, and tool call frequency. A customer service agent might cost $0.01-0.10 per conversation, while research agents performing complex multi-step tasks can range from $0.50-5.00 per execution depending on depth and iterations.
- Can agent frameworks work with local or open-source models?
- Yes, most frameworks support both API-based models and locally-hosted open-source models like Llama, Mistral, or Qwen. Local deployment reduces costs and latency but requires infrastructure for model hosting and may sacrifice reasoning quality compared to frontier models.
- How do I evaluate if my use case needs an agent framework versus simple LLM calls?
- Use agent frameworks when tasks require multi-step reasoning, tool use, memory across interactions, or autonomous decision-making. Simple LLM calls suffice for single-turn classification, generation, or summarization tasks without external data dependencies.
- What are the security considerations for production agent deployments?
- Agents require sandboxed tool execution, input validation to prevent prompt injection, rate limiting to control costs, and audit logs for compliance. Sensitive operations should include human approval gates, and agent permissions should follow least-privilege principles for data access.