AI Practitioner

Understanding Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Architecture, Variants, and Best Practices Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is a hybrid approach that combines large language models (LLMs) with external knowledge retrieval systems. Instead of relying solely on the parametric knowledge embedded within LLM weights, RAG enables dynamic, non-parametric access to external sources—most commonly via vector databases—allowing LLMs to generate factually grounded and context-rich responses.  The simplest form of RAG can be seen when a user of generative AI includes specific domain knowledge—such as a URL or a PDF document—along with their prompt to get more accurate responses. In this case, the user manually attaches external references to help the AI generate answers based on specialized information. A RAG system automates this process. It stores various domain-specific documents in a database and, whenever a user asks a question, it retrieves relevant information and appends it...

Vector Database (Vector DB): A Deep Dive for ML/DL Engineers What is a Vector Database? A Vector Database (Vector DB) is a specialized type of database designed to efficiently store, index, and query high-dimensional vectors. These vectors often represent embeddings from deep learning models—semantic representations of data such as text, images, audio, or code. Unlike traditional relational databases that rely on exact key-based lookups or structured queries, vector databases are optimized for approximate or exact nearest neighbor (ANN or NNS) searches, which are fundamental to tasks such as semantic search, recommendation systems, anomaly detection, and generative AI retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Core Components of a Vector Database A production-grade vector database typically comprises the following components: Embedding Store: A storage engine for high-dimensional vectors with metadata. Indexing Engine: Structures like HNSW, IVF, PQ, or ANNOY to support f...