Tools explained

What is a Tool

A Tool in Gen AI Builder is a Griptape-powered component that extends the capabilities of AI Assistants and Structures by enabling them to perform actions beyond simple text generation.

Tools act as callable functions or plugins that can:

Query external systems.
Perform calculations.
Retrieve live data.
Interact with APIs.
Execute business logic.

In short: Tools make your AI active, not just reactive — enabling it to take meaningful actions.

Without Tools, Assistants and Structures are limited to generating responses based on static knowledge.

Why use Tools

To enable AI-driven applications that can interact with external systems.
To enrich conversations with live data.
To automate business processes.
To implement organization-specific logic as reusable components.
To allow LLMs to answer questions they otherwise could not — by giving them access to Tools.

Tools transform Assistants from static Q&A bots into true interactive agents.

How Tools work

Tools are implemented as Griptape Tools — Python classes that define one or more callable activities.

At runtime:

User submits input to an Assistant.
The LLM determines that a Tool should be used.
The Assistant calls the Tool, passing required parameters.
The Tool executes:

Calls an API.
Performs a calculation.
Fetches data.
Runs any defined business logic.

The Tool returns results to the Assistant.
The Assistant incorporates the Tool result into its response.

The flow:

→ Tool executes → Tool result → LLM generates final response → User Output

Tool configuration:

Packaged as a Zip file or deployed from GitHub.
Includes:
Griptape Tool class (Python).
Tool Config file.
Environment variables (e.g., API keys).

Tools can also be used:

Within Structures → as components of pipelines.
In Data Source pipelines → for data transformation.

When to use Tools

Use Tools when you need:

Live data retrieval:
Stock prices
Weather
Exchange rates
News headlines
API integration:
Internal databases
CRM systems
Custom applications
Business logic execution:
Complex calculations
Rule-based processing
Process automation:
Multi-step workflows triggered by user input

If you want an Assistant to answer:

"What’s the current EUR to USD exchange rate?" → You need a Tool.

If you want an Assistant to:

"Summarize all open Jira tickets for my team." → You need a Tool.

Patterns of use

API Connector Tool

Calls an external API and returns data.
Example: FX Rate Tool, Weather Lookup Tool.

Calculator Tool

Performs internal calculations and returns result.
Example: Mortgage Calculator Tool.

Data Fetcher Tool

Retrieves data from an internal system.
Example: Customer Profile Lookup Tool.

Data Transformer Tool

Preprocesses or transforms data.
Example: Document Summarizer Tool.

Process Automation Tool

Triggers multi-step processes or workflows.
Example: Order Processing Tool.

Best practices

Implement Tools as modular Griptape Tools:
Use @activity decorators for activities.
Define clear input/output schemas.
Write robust error handling — handle API failures gracefully.
Externalize secrets via environment variables — never hardcode credentials.
Keep Tools focused — one Tool → one purpose.
Use Tool metadata and versioning to manage lifecycle.
Test Tools independently before integrating with Assistants.
Monitor Tool usage and performance.
Document Tool behavior clearly for users and developers.

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