Agents

Compound AI System

1 min read

Quick Definition

A system combining multiple AI models, retrievers, tools, and logic into an integrated application.

Most production AI applications are compound systems, not single model calls. This creates evaluation challenges.

Components

  • Multiple models (different sizes/capabilities)
  • Retrieval systems
  • External tools
  • Orchestration logic
  • Guardrails

Implications

  • End-to-end evaluation needed
  • Component interactions matter
  • More failure modes
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