Agent vs Pipeline

1. What is the main advantage of using a pipeline over an agent in predictable tasks?

Pipelines are more flexible. Pipelines can handle open-ended tasks. Pipelines are easier to test and reason about. Pipelines require more model calls.

2. When should a designer prefer to create an agent instead of a pipeline?

When the steps can be enumerated in advance. When the control flow is simple and predefined. When tasks are genuinely open-ended. When it reduces the need for model calls.

3. Which of the following steps is NOT part of the example pipeline provided in the lesson?

Embed the learner's question. Retrieve relevant lesson chunks. Return the ungrounded answer. Call the model once with the context.

4. What is a key reason for designing a pipeline instead of an agent according to the lesson?

Pipelines can constantly adjust their strategy. Agents are generally less secure. Pipelines are more cost-effective in terms of resources. Agents simplify complex tasks.

Continue: Agentic RAG — Retrieval as a Tool, Not a Reflex → Review this lesson Retake quiz