Google Vertex AI Tutorial: How To Build AI Agents [2026]

Google's Vertex AI is a comprehensive, fully managed platform designed to streamline the development, deployment, and management of machine learning and generative AI models, offering tools like the Vertex AI Agent Builder for creating conversational agents without coding. Launched in May 2021, Vertex AI integrates various services to simplify machine learning workflows and supports over 150 foundation models, including Gemini, which enhances performance through long context understanding and multimodal capabilities. The platform also includes features for end-to-end model management, MLOps integration, and specialized AI solutions like Anti Money Laundering AI. While Vertex AI provides powerful capabilities, it has limitations in customization and scalability for complex applications and is dependent on Google Cloud services. Pricing is based on usage with a free tier available, and several alternatives exist, such as Voiceflow, which offers no-code development, cross-platform compatibility, and extensive integrations. The Vertex AI Feature Store and API further support seamless model management and deployment, with the platform being highly integrated with Google Cloud, distinguishing it from competitors like AWS Sagemaker, Kubeflow, and Amazon Bedrock.