How Google showed me it's now easier than ever to build apps with real intelligence.
👋 Introduction
I recently had the chance to attend one of the most exciting tech workshops I have ever experienced. It was hosted by Google and focused on something I have been really curious about lately, which is AI agents.
If you are into AI, app development, or simply enjoy bringing smart ideas to life, this session was a real gem. I learned how to use Firebase Studio and even built a working AI-powered travel agent. I left with a head full of ideas and a ton of inspiration.
🧠 The Tech Talk: Firebase Studio + AI = Magic
At first, I was not sure what to expect since Firebase is usually known for its backend features. But this session completely changed how I looked at it. Prasad explained everything so clearly. He showed us how Firebase Studio can be used not just for hosting or managing databases, but also as a powerful platform toquickly prototype and launch AI-powered apps.
The best part? You don't need to be an AI expert, just curious and ready to explore.
We saw how easily you could:
- Build apps with integrated AI features
- Connect them to databases
- Handle authentication and storage
- Use Firebase tools with LLMs to create smart user experiences
The Hands-on Fun: We Built a Travel Agent!
Next came the hands-on workshop, led by Ashutosh S. Bhakare, a Google Developer Expert. This was not just a typical session where you sit back and watch. We actually built something real, anAI-powered travel agent!
🧰 Tools We Used:
- MCP Toolbox – for managing the backend database and responses
- ADK (Agent Development Kit) – to build the conversational AI interface
We created an agent that could understand a user's travel preferences, fetch data from a mock database, and return meaningful trip suggestions.
It was like building a mini ChatGPT, but focused entirely on planning travel.
Seeing the whole thing come together, from a blank screen to a working AI agent, was incredible and It was honestly one of the most satisfying moments of the day.
🔗 If you want to try it yourself, here's the official codelab.
My Key Takeaways
- AI-first development is real. You don't need complex infrastructure or massive models. Tools like Firebase Studio + ADK make it beginner-friendly.
- Prototyping is now super fast. We built a working agent in just a couple of hours.
- AI agents are the future. From customer service to personal assistants, this is just the beginning.
- It's okay to start small. You don't need to build ChatGPT. Build something useful, focused, and simple.
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