Large language models have powerful language capabilities but also limitations, such as difficulty handling private data, accessing the latest information, following fixed processes, and automatically planning complex projects. To overcome these limitations, Model Studio provides three types of applications: agent, workflow, and agent orchestration. These applications add features such as knowledge base retrieval, workflow design, and agent collaboration to significantly expand the capabilities of models.
Console restrictions: Only International Edition users who created applications before April 21, 2025 can access the Application Development tab, as shown in the following figure.
This tab contains the following features: Applications (agent application and workflow application), Components (prompt engineering and plug-in), and Data (knowledge base and application data). These are all preview features. Use them with caution in production environments.
API call limits: Only International Edition users who created applications before April 21, 2025, can call the application data, knowledge base, and prompt engineering APIs.
Select application type
Agent application (Assistant)
If you are new to model applications, we recommend that you start with the agent application. An agent application is a conversational AI application that completes complex tasks through contextual dialogue, autonomous decision-making, and tool calling. Its simple configuration process and intuitive conversational output format make it ideal for beginners to quickly create single-function AI applications. For more information, see Agent application.
Workflow application (Workflow)
If you are familiar with agent applications but find they do not meet your needs for designing a fixed AI workflow, we recommend using a workflow application. A workflow application is a procedural AI application that breaks down complex tasks into several subtasks to provide greater control over the workflow. You can create custom task flows by dragging and dropping nodes. For more information, see Workflow application.
Feature comparison
Comparison item | Agent application | Workflow application |
Creation method | No-code | No-code |
Application form | Conversational | Procedural |
Dependency on prompts | High | Low |
Supported | Supported | |
Supported (official and custom) | Supported (plug-in node, API node) | |
Text conversion | Partially supported (dependent on prompts) | Supported (text conversion node and script conversion node) |
Integration with external services | Supported (custom plugins) | Supported (Function Compute node) |
Branching | Partially supported (dependent on prompts) | Supported (logical branching and intent recognition) |
Automatic planning | Partially supported (dependent on prompts) | Supported (agent group node) |