From Local LLM to Tool-Using Agent

A local Large Language Model can be transformed into a tool-using agent by combining several key technologies. This guide demonstrates how to use the Gemma 4 model, served locally with Ollama, as the core intelligence. The agent's runtime is managed by the OpenAI Agents SDK, which facilitates the integration of external tools like the Tavily web search API. The process involves configuring the model, defining specific instructions for research behavior, and connecting the search tool via an MCP server. The result is a functional local research agent that can search the web, gather evidence, and synthesize cited answers to user questions.