Build AI Agent Connected to Unlimited APIs with Vercel's AI SDK & Pica's OneTool

The ability to seamlessly connect and interact with multiple APIs can unlock incredible potential in software development. Today, we’re walking through how to build an AI agent that interfaces with APIs using tools like Express, Vercel’s AI SDK, and Pica’s AI infrastructure. Let’s dive in.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have Node.js and npm installed. You’ll also need an OpenAI API key and a .

What’s Happening Here?

1. 
   Dependencies:
   
   
   
   
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     express handles the server.
   
   
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     @ai-sdk/openai and ai manage the OpenAI API interactions.
   
   
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     @picahq/ai provides access to Pica’s AI tooling infrastructure.
   
   
   
   


2. 
   Environment Variables: We use dotenv to load sensitive keys, keeping them out of your code.


3. 
   Endpoint Logic: When a request hits /api/ai, it initializes Pica, generates a system prompt, and sends the AI’s response back to the client.

Step 3: Next Steps

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  Enhance: Add authentication or rate limiting to your server for production.


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  Expand: Use Pica’s additional tools to interact with more APIs or data sources.


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  Deploy: Host your server on a cloud platform like Vercel or AWS for broader access.

Conclusion

In just a few steps, you’ve built a lightweight AI agent capable of interfacing with an extensive range of APIs. This structure can be expanded to automate workflows, handle complex queries, or integrate with other tools seamlessly.

Got questions? Share them in the comments below or connect with me on Twitter.

Happy building!