853: Generative AI for Business, with Kirill Eremenko and Hadelin de Ponteves
Jan 14, 2025
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Join Kirill Eremenko, CEO of Super Data Science, and Hadelin de Ponteves, a leading AI educator, as they delve into the transformative power of foundation models for businesses. They discuss the eight-step lifecycle for implementing these models, offer criteria for selecting the best fit, and explore clever customization techniques. The duo also introduces AWS generative AI tools, making it easier for companies to leverage AI without breaking the bank. Their insights are a treasure trove for anyone looking to navigate the generative AI landscape!
Foundation models are revolutionizing business solutions by enabling organizations to leverage pre-trained AI technology instead of starting from scratch.
The foundation model lifecycle consists of eight crucial steps, ensuring effective implementation through careful data preparation and model deployment.
AWS tools like Amazon Q, Bedrock, and SageMaker provide scalable options for businesses to integrate and customize generative AI functionalities efficiently.
Deep dives
Introduction to Foundation Models
Foundation models serve as the cornerstone for building customized AI applications, exemplified by large language models that interpret and generate human-like text. These models are pre-trained on vast datasets, allowing businesses to leverage existing sophisticated technology rather than starting from scratch. The cake analogy is used to illustrate this concept; the foundation model is the basic cake layer, while the customizations applied represent various toppings and decorations tailored to specific needs. By using foundation models, organizations can enhance their applications and drive innovation without incurring the extensive costs associated with the development and training of new models.
Lifecycle of Foundation Models
The lifecycle of foundation models comprises eight essential steps: data preparation, model selection, pre-training, fine-tuning, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance. Data preparation includes gathering and curating relevant data, while model selection involves choosing the architecture and type of model that aligns with an organization's specific needs. Pre-training refers to the extensive computational work required to establish the foundational model, which is subsequently fine-tuned for particular use cases. This structured approach ensures that companies can effectively implement and iterate on AI applications, continually refining them to adapt to evolving demands and input.
Customization Techniques for Foundation Models
Customization of foundation models can primarily occur during training or deployment. During training, techniques like domain-specific fine-tuning—adjusting the model to understand particular jargon or datasets—and instruction-based fine-tuning—where the model is trained to follow explicit directives—are common. Reinforcement learning from human feedback is another method that allows ongoing improvements through evaluated interactions. In deployment, options such as adjusting inference parameters, utilizing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) to enhance responses, and establishing agents for task management allow organizations to further tailor model behavior to better meet user needs.
Key Factors for Selecting Foundation Models
Selecting the right foundation model requires consideration of twelve critical factors, which include cost, modality, customization options, inference speed, and latency. Organizations must evaluate the type of data required, such as text, image, or video, as well as their long-term scalability needs based on user growth. Performance benchmarks and language support are also pivotal metrics that influence decision-making, ensuring that the model aligns with specific application requirements. Lastly, compliance with regulations and environmental considerations are increasingly important, promoting responsible use of AI technology and adherence to industry standards.
AWS Services for Generative AI
AWS offers a robust generative AI ecosystem, featuring tiered services that cater to varying levels of technical expertise and requirements. At the highest level, Amazon Q provides an easy-to-use interface for integrating generative AI capabilities without deep technical knowledge, enabling rapid deployment for end-users. Amazon Bedrock represents a mid-tier option where users can access and customize a variety of foundation models while managing costs sustainably. For those needing granular control over the AI development life cycle, SageMaker presents a comprehensive platform capable of spanning all aspects of model development, from building to training and deployment.
Experiences with SageMaker and Generative AI Tools
SageMaker hosts several features geared toward simplifying the model development pipeline, including Data Wrangler for efficient data preparation and SageMaker Canvas, which allows rapid training and model tuning with impressive accuracy. Users have recounted success within a short timeframe using SageMaker, dramatically reducing the time required to train machine learning models compared to previous methods. SageMaker Jumpstart expands access to various foundational models for different applications, including computer vision and natural language processing, allowing businesses to easily implement sophisticated AI solutions. These tools empower organizations to harness generative AI's full potential, facilitating innovation and operational efficiency.
Kirill Eremenko and Hadelin de Ponteves AI educators, whose courses have been taken by over 3 Million students, sit down with Jon Krohn to talk about how foundation models are transforming businesses. From real-world examples to clever customization techniques and powerful AWS tools, they cover it all.
bravotech.ai - Partner with Kirill & Hadelin for GenAI implementation and training in your business. Mention the “SDS Podcast” in your inquiry to start with 3 complimentary hours of consulting.
This episode is brought to you by ODSC, the Open Data Science Conference. Interested in sponsoring a SuperDataScience Podcast episode? Email natalie@superdatascience.com for sponsorship information.
In this episode you will learn:
(07:00) What are foundation models?
(15:45) Overview of the foundation model lifecycle: 8 main steps.
(29:11) Criteria for selecting the right foundation model for business use.
(41:35) Exploring methods to customize foundation models.
(53:04) Techniques to modify foundation models during deployment or inference.
(01:11:00) Introduction to AWS generative AI tools like Amazon Q, Bedrock, and SageMaker.