05 · Getting Models to Act
Tool Use
Function Calling
The model's ability to invoke external tools — run code, query a database, hit an API — instead of only producing text. What lets an AI actually do things (book a meeting, pull live data) rather than just talk about them.
Concrete example
Asked today's exchange rate, the model calls a currency API and answers with the live number.
Why it matters
The capability that turns a chatbot into something that can act.