Title
In Just 10 Minutes Without Coding! Build a 'Free Real-Time Travel Planner Agent' with Google AI Studio 🤖✈️
Introduction
Hello, everyone! You have probably heard the term 'AI Agent' a lot lately, right? While a general chatbot is a passive entity that merely answers what it knows based on your questions, an AI agent is a smart, custom assistant that actively solves problems by using 'Tools' like 'Google Search' on its own to find the latest information.
"Don't I need to do complex Python coding to make an agent?" Not at all! Today, we are going to build our own 'Real-Time Travel Planner Agent' using Google's latest platform, 'Google AI Studio', without any coding knowledge, and without even needing to register a credit card (it is completely free!).
So that even absolute beginners can complete it just by following along blindly, I will guide you perfectly and in detail without a single false statement, based on the very latest first screen (UI) as of today in 2026. Shall we get right to it?
🔍 A Complete Guide to the Google AI Studio First Screen Menu (UI)
This is the very first screen you will meet when you log in to aistudio.google.com with your Google account. We will go through what role the menus on the left sidebar play one by one from a beginner's perspective.
Playground
🎯 (Where we will be working today!) This is the default menu selected when you access the screen. It is a sandbox-like space where you can freely test prompts, change AI model settings, and build your own agent.Build
This is the 'Vibe Coding' space causing a stir among developers. If you just type in natural language (speech), "Make an app like this," the AI instantly codes a fully working full-stack app.Dashboard
This is where you manage your created projects and check the 'API Key' needed when connecting the AI to external services.Documentation
An external link that takes you to Google's official AI developer documentation page.Bottom Left Menus
Here you will find the 'What's new' button to see the latest updates, 'Get API key' to instantly issue an API key, and the 'Settings' button to change platform configurations.
Now that we have grasped the menus, let's build the agent in earnest!
🛠️ Step-by-Step: Building Your Own Travel Planner Agent
Step 1: Selecting a Model in the Right 'Run settings'
Make sure 'Playground' is selected in the left menu.
Look at the far right of the screen; there is a long settings panel called 'Run settings'.
At the very top of the panel, there is a rectangular box displaying the name of the model currently in use (e.g., Gemini 3 Flash Preview). Click this box and select the model you want. (We recommend the Gemini 2.5 Flash or Gemini 3 Flash series, which are fast and great for free use.)
Step 2: Setting the Agent's Brain! Writing 'System instructions'
In the past, this feature was hidden, but in the latest version, it has moved to an incredibly easy-to-find spot! Let's give the AI a perfect 'role'.
In the right 'Run settings' panel, look right below the model selection box.
A large text input box labeled 'System instructions' is open by default.
Copy and paste the content below exactly as it is into this box. This will become the agent's permanent code of conduct.
"You are a meticulous travel planner agent who finds travel information worldwide. When a user mentions a travel destination, you must use the 'Google Search' tool to find 1) the current local weather, 2) today's real-time exchange rate, and 3) the top 3 latest attractions recommended by locals, and organize them into an easy-to-read 'Table' format. Your answers should always be written in a friendly and energetic tone, mixing in emojis."
Step 3: Equipping Tools - The Moment a Chatbot Evolves into an 'Agent'!
For the AI to find 'real-time weather and exchange rates' as we commanded, we need to hand it internet search capabilities.
In the right 'Run settings' panel, scroll all the way down to the bottom.
You will see an item called 'Tools'.
Among the list underneath, click the switch next to the 'Grounding with Google Search' feature to turn it on. The switch color will change to indicate it is active. (Note: As of 2026, even on the Free Tier, if you use the Gemini Flash model, you can use the Google Search tool for free up to 500 times a day!)
Step 4: Running and Testing the Agent
Now all settings are complete! Shall we check if the agent listens well?
Look at the bottom center of the screen, and you will find a long text input box that says 'Start typing a prompt, use alt + enter to append'.
Click here, type the following, and hit Enter.
"I am planning a 3-night, 4-day trip to Osaka, Japan next week. Could you find some real-time information for me?"
Watch the results! The agent will autonomously use the 'Google Search' tool you just turned on in the background to collect the latest web data, and then output an answer by drawing a perfect table (weather, exchange rate, recommended attractions) according to the rules instructed in the system instructions.
Conclusion & Expectations
Great job! Even without knowing a single line of code, just by entering your prompt into System instructions in the right panel and turning on the Grounding with Google Search switch, your own smart 'Real-Time Travel Planner Agent' was born. 🎉
The combination of System instructions and Tools you experienced today is the most core backbone for building any AI agent. If you grasp this principle, you can create anything you imagine just by changing the system instructions and tools—like a "research agent that translates and summarizes foreign news every day" or a "tutor agent that runs code to solve math problems (using the Code execution tool)."
Log into the Google AI Studio first screen right now, and freely design various AI agents at no cost that will dramatically make your daily life easier! If you get stuck while following along, please come back anytime.