foreword
Generative AI is here to stay, with profound implications for most of us—especially software developers. Despite its proven positive impact on personal productivity, studies consistently show that enterprise Gen AI initiatives usually fail. This book is part of the solution to that problem.
Too many people think AI is synonymous with Python. This is a costly misconception. Python is the language of data science and low-level ML. However, success applying Gen AI in business is about application development, in which Java has long led the way.
The JVM has a critically important role to play in reaping the full power of Gen AI. Agents are only as useful as the functionality they can access: Gen AI systems written in Java not only benefit from the maturity of the language ecosystem, but from proximity to valuable domain models and business logic.
Most JVM systems are built on Spring. Over the last 22 years, Spring has brought its core principles and engineering rigor to the key challenges faced by Java developers. With the rise of AI it is fitting that Spring AI provides a clear path forward, making it easy and natural to add Gen AI functionality. That path now extends to sophisticated agent workflows with Embabel.
Craig Walls has always played a valuable role in the Spring ecosystem. His Spring in Action was probably the first truly good book about Spring. He has a rare gift for making things easy to understand without glossing over thorny issues.