Debugging Issues in a Retrieval-Augmented Chatbot

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) chatbots use large language models (LLMs) plus a search system that pulls information from external sources to answer questions more accurately and reliably. While powerful, RAG chatbots can hit snags—from missing answers to confusing responses. Here’s a beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide for debugging these chatbots to help make…

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Rule-Based NLP vs. LLMs

Large Language Models (LLMs) are powerful tools. They can understand natural language, generate text, write code, and much more. However, classic rule-based NLP (Natural Language Processing) systems—where humans program the logic and rules—are still very useful in many situations. Rule-based NLP uses a set of pre-written instructions to process language….

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Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation, or RAG, is a smart way to make Large Language Models (LLMs) better at answering questions by giving them access to fresh and accurate information from external sources. Instead of relying only on what the model learned during training, RAG adds relevant facts from a trusted knowledge base…

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Context Window in LLMs

When working with large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini, you may often hear about the model’s “context window.” A context window refers to the maximum span of text (measured in tokens, which are chunks of words or characters) that an LLM can consider at one time when generating a…

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Key Hallucination Types: Transportation Domain

Key hallucination types common in the transportation domain typically align with broader natural language generation hallucinations but have unique manifestations related to transit and traffic data. They include: Factual Hallucinations:The model generates false or fabricated transportation facts, such as incorrect traffic incident reports, wrong vehicle counts, mishandled route schedules, or…

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Five Practical Checks to Spot Hallucinations in LLM Outputs

Cross-verify With Trusted SourcesAlways corroborate key facts or figures generated by the LLM with reliable, authoritative sources such as official websites, academic papers, or verified databases. If the output contradicts these trusted references, it’s likely a hallucination. Check Logical ConsistencyReview the output for internal contradictions or implausible claims. Hallucinated content…

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Hallucinations in Large Language Models

If you are new to data science and artificial intelligence, understanding hallucinations in large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, GPT-4, or similar platforms is essential. Simply put, hallucination is when a language model generates an answer or text that sounds plausible, coherent, and confident but is actually factually incorrect or…

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