Retrieval Augmented Generation For Beginners
Introduction
As the world of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, new techniques and methods are being developed to push the boundaries of what is possible. One such technique is retrieval augmented generation (RAG), a combination of retrieval-based and generative AI. RAG has gained attention in recent years for its ability to improve the performance of natural language processing (NLP) tasks. In this blog post, we will explore what RAG is, how it works, and why it is beneficial for beginners to understand and utilize for their research, marketing, and organization.
What is Retrieval Augmented Generation?
Retrieval augmented generation, also known as RAG, is a technique that combines the strengths of retrieval-based and generative AI to improve the performance of NLP tasks. Retrieval-based models use pre-defined responses from a dataset to generate responses, while generative models use large language models to generate responses from scratch. RAG combines these two approaches by first retrieving relevant information from a dataset and then using a generative model to refine and generate a response. This technique allows for more accurate and diverse responses compared to traditional retrieval-based or generative models.
How Does RAG Work?
The RAG process can be broken down into three main steps: retrieval, generation, and ranking.
1. Retrieval
The retrieval step involves using a search engine or a retrieval-based model to retrieve relevant information from a dataset. This can be done using keywords, phrases, or a combination of both. The retrieved information serves as the input for the generative model in the next step.
2. Generation
In the generation step, a large language model, such as GPT-3, is used to generate a response based on the retrieved information. The generated response is then combined with the retrieved information to create a more accurate and diverse response.
3. Ranking
The final step is ranking, where the generated response is compared to the originally retrieved information. This step ensures that the generated response is relevant and coherent, and it also helps to improve the overall performance of the model.
Benefits of Understanding RAG for Beginners
As a beginner in the field of AI and NLP, understanding RAG can be extremely beneficial for your research, marketing, and organization. Here are some of the key benefits of utilizing RAG:
1. Improved Performance
RAG has been shown to significantly improve the performance of NLP tasks compared to traditional retrieval-based or generative models. This is because the combination of the two techniques allows for more accurate and diverse responses.
2. Increased Efficiency
By using a pre-defined dataset for retrieval, RAG can save time and resources compared to traditional generative models that need to generate responses from scratch. This increased efficiency can be valuable for organizations looking to streamline their NLP processes.
3. Better Understanding of Data
RAG allows for a deeper understanding of the data being used, as the retrieval step requires researchers to carefully select and curate the dataset. This can lead to more meaningful and insightful results for researchers.
4. Enhanced Marketing Strategies
For marketers, RAG can be a powerful tool for creating personalized and engaging content. By combining the retrieved information with generative models, marketers can create more relevant and compelling responses for their target audience.
5. Improved Customer Service
Organizations can also benefit from RAG by using it to improve their customer service processes. By using RAG for chatbots or virtual assistants, organizations can provide more accurate and personalized responses to their customers, leading to improved customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
Retrieval augmented generation is a powerful technique that combines the strengths of retrieval-based and generative AI to improve the performance of NLP tasks. As a beginner in the world of AI and NLP, understanding RAG can provide numerous benefits for your research, marketing, and organization. By utilizing RAG, you can enhance your performance, increase efficiency, gain a better understanding of data, and improve your marketing and customer service strategies. With the continuous advancements in AI, it is essential to stay updated and leverage techniques like RAG to stay ahead in the field of NLP.
How To Use Speak’s Retrieval Augmented Generation For Beginners
Step 1: Create Your Speak Account
To start your transcription and analysis, you first need to create a Speak account. No worries, this is super easy to do!
Get a 14-day trial with 30 minutes of free audio and video transcription and analysis included when you sign up for Speak.
To sign up for Speak and start using Speak Magic Prompts with retrieval augmented generation, just visit the Speak app register page here.
Step 2: Upload Your Beginners
We typically recommend MP4s for video or MP3s for audio.
However, we accept a range of audio, video and text file types.
You can upload your file for transcription in several ways using Speak:
Accepted Audio File Types
- MP3
- M4A
- WAV
- OGG
- WEBM
- M4P
Accepted Video File Types
- MP4
- M4V
- WMV
- AVI
- MOV
- FLV
Accepted Text File Types
- TXT
- Word Doc
CSV Imports
You can also upload CSVs of text files or audio and video files. You can learn more about CSV uploads and download Speak-compatible CSVs here.
With the CSVs, you can upload anything from dozens of YouTube videos to thousands of Beginners files.
Publicly Available URLs
You can also upload media to Speak through a publicly available URL.
As long as the file type extension is available at the end of the URL you will have no problem importing your recording for automatic transcription and analysis.
YouTube URLs
Speak is compatible with YouTube videos. All you have to do is copy the URL of the YouTube video (for example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKfcLcHeivc).
Speak will automatically find the file, calculate the length, and import the video.
If using YouTube videos, please make sure you use the full link and not the shortened YouTube snippet. Additionally, make sure you remove the channel name from the URL.
Speak Integrations
As mentioned, Speak also contains a range of integrations for Zoom, Zapier, Vimeo and more that will help you automatically transcribe your media.
This library of integrations continues to grow! Have a request? Feel encouraged to send us a message.
Step 3: Calculate and Pay the Total Automatically
Once you have your file(s) ready and load it into Speak, it will automatically calculate the total cost (you get 30 minutes of audio and video free in the 14-day trial – take advantage of it!).
If you are uploading text data into Speak, you do not currently have to pay any cost. Only the Speak Magic Prompts analysis would create a fee which will be detailed below.
Once you go over your 30 minutes or need to use Speak Magic Prompts, you can pay by subscribing to a personalized plan using our real-time calculator.
You can also add a balance or pay for uploads and analysis without a plan using your credit card.
Step 4: Wait for Speak to Analyze Your Beginners
If you are uploading audio and video, our automated transcription software will prepare your transcript quickly. Once completed, you will get an email notification that your transcript is complete.
That email will contain a link back to the file so you can access the interactive media player with the transcript, analysis, and export formats ready for you.
If you are importing CSVs or uploading text files Speak will generally analyze the information much more quickly.
Speak will automatically embed your data in a well-architected vector database which allows you to use retrieval augmented generation for Beginners.
Step 5: Visit Your File Or Folder
Speak is capable of analyzing both individual files and entire folders of data.
When you are viewing any individual file in Speak, all you have to do is click on the “Prompts” button.
If you want to analyze many files, all you have to do is add the files you want to analyze into a folder within Speak.
You can do that by adding new files into Speak or you can organize your current files into your desired folder with the software’s easy editing functionality.
Step 6: Select Speak Magic Prompts To Analyze Your Beginners
What Are Magic Prompts?
Speak Magic Prompts leverage innovation in artificial intelligence models often referred to as “generative AI”.
These models have analyzed huge amounts of data from across the internet to gain an understanding of language.
With that understanding, these “large language models” are capable of performing mind-bending tasks!
With Speak Magic Prompts, you can now perform those tasks on the audio, video and text data in your Speak account.
Retrieval augmented generation is what makes these Magic Prompts work so well.
Step 7: Select or Create Your Assistant Type
To help you get better results from Speak Magic Prompts, Speak has introduced “Assistant Type”.
These assistant types pre-set and provide context to the prompt engine for more concise, meaningful outputs based on your needs.
To begin, we have included:
- General
- Researcher
- Marketer
- Sales
- Recruiter
Choose the most relevant assistant type from the dropdown.
You can also create your own custom Assistant Template Type.
If you visit the new page Account Preferences, you can see there is now an area where you can create your own custom Assistant.
This allows you to set the context of the engine for higher quality and more consistent outputs.
For example, you could say:
“We are [COMPANY NAME]. We are analyzing [DATA] to understand how to improve [GOAL]. We want all responses to be concise and in table format.”.
This becomes a reusable template in any of your manual or automated Magic Prompts.
You can create multiple templates for different use cases.
As an example, the analysis you run on a focus group may be different than a one-on-one interview.
Step 8: Create Or Select Your Desired Prompt
Here are some examples prompts that you can apply to any file right now:
- Create a SWOT Analysis
- Give me the top action items
- Create a bullet point list summary
- Tell me the key issues that were left unresolved
- Tell me what questions were asked
A modal will pop up so you can use the suggested prompts we shared above to instantly and magically get your answers.
If you have your own prompts you want to create, select “Custom Prompt” from the dropdown and another text box will open where you can ask anything you want of your data!
Step 9: Review & Share Responses
Speak will generate a concise response for you in a text box below the prompt selection dropdown. With Chat enabled, you can also continue to query that data to reveal more insights and reformat the information to your needs.
In this example, we ask to analyze all the Beginners in the folder at once for the top product dissatisfiers.
You can easily copy that response for your presentations, content, emails, team members and more!
Speak Magic Prompts Pricing
Our team at Speak Ai continues to optimize the pricing for Magic Prompts and Speak as a whole.
Right now, anyone in the 14-day trial of Speak gets 100,000 characters included in their account.
If you need more characters, you can easily include Speak Magic Prompts in your plan when you create a subscription.
You can also upgrade the number of characters in your account if you already have a subscription.
Both options are available on the subscription page.
Alternatively, you can use Speak Magic Prompts by adding a balance to your account. The balance will be used as you analyze characters.
Completely Personalize Your Plan 📝
Here at Speak, we’ve made it incredibly easy to personalize your subscription.
Once you sign up, just visit our custom plan builder and select the media volume, team size, and features you want to get a plan that fits your needs.
No more rigid plans. Upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time.
Claim Your Special Offer 🎁
When you subscribe, you will also get a free premium add-on for three months!
That means you save up to $50 USD per month and $150 USD in total.
Once you subscribe to a plan, all you have to do is send us a live chat with your selected premium add-on from the list below:
- Premium Export Options (Word, CSV & More)
- Custom Categories & Insights
- Recorder Customization (Branding, Input & More)
- Media Player Customization
- Shareable Media Libraries
We will put the add-on live in your account free of charge!
What are you waiting for?
Refer Others & Earn Real Money 💸
If you have friends, peers and followers interested in using our platform, you can earn real monthly money.
You will get paid a percentage of all sales whether the customers you refer to pay for a plan, automatically transcribe media or leverage professional transcription services.
Use this link to become an official Speak affiliate.
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Just use our Calendly link to find a time that works well for you. We look forward to meeting you!
