Building an AI app shouldn’t require a PhD in machine learning (ML) or months of wrestling with complex architectures. Yet that’s exactly what happens when you try to orchestrate multiple API calls, manage conversation state, and create agents that can reason on their own. I’ve seen straightforward AI ideas balloon into sprawling projects that demand specialized knowledge in natural language processing and distributed systems. But here’s what changed: using Strands Agents and AWS services, I built a fully functional AI research assistant in just 30 lines of code. In this post, I walk you through exactly how I did it—from initial concept to working application.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers multiple options for building agentic AI applications. Amazon Bedrock provides access to foundation models (FMs) that can power intelligent agents, while services like Kiro enable developer-focused AI assistance directly within the IDE. You can use these tools to create custom AI agents tailored to specific use cases and domains.
Kiro is an AI-powered IDE that writes code so developers can focus on decisions. Kiro Powers extend the Kiro IDE with specialized, on-demand capabilities by packaging MCP servers, steering files, and hooks into reusable units. The Strands power, for example, bundles SDK documentation search, getting started guides, and correct API patterns so Kiro can scaffold agents accurately. With over 50 curated powers from AWS, partners, and the community—covering design, deployment, security, and observability—developers install with one click and start building immediately.
