This course introduces the foundations and practical applications of Generative AI, with a particular focus on Large Language Models (LLMs) and the development of real-world LLM-based systems. Students will explore how modern LLMs operate and learn effective methods for interacting with them through prompting techniques. The course also covers the design of intelligent applications using embeddings, vector databases, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), tool integration, and agentic workflows. Through hands-on projects, students will design and implement LLM-powered systems that incorporate external knowledge sources and tools. The course emphasizes the practical skills needed to build, evaluate, and deploy robust and scalable LLM-driven applications.