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StartLesson 6 · The solution-pattern ladder

Before you start

About 23 minutes · 7 steps
What you'll do
Learn the five common ways to build with AI, from simply asking a model to letting it take actions, and when each one fits.
Why it matters
Many AI projects pick a heavier approach than they need, and pay for it in cost and complexity. This ladder helps you pick the simplest one that works.
What you'll walk away with
  • What prompting, RAG, workflows, agents and fine-tuning each mean, in plain words
  • How they combine in the Northgate assistant
  • One rule: use the simplest approach that works
What “done” looks like
  • You've matched the requests in Try it
  • You've answered the two quick questions

There's no Build task in this lesson. If you already know these five approaches, the two questions tell you whether you can move on.

All 7 steps in this lesson
  1. 1· 1 min
  2. 2· 4 min
  3. 3· 5 min
  4. 4· 5 min
  5. 5· 5 min
  6. 6· 2 min
  7. 7· 1 min