Three Quick Tips for Implementation from an LLM Expert

In a recent episode of the InTechnology podcast, I dove into the world of Large Language Models (LLMs) with Sanjay Rajagopalan, Chief Design and Strategy Officer at Vianai Systems. Sanjay shared his expertise on implementing LLMs in enterprises and what to watch out for. Let’s get into a few of Sanjay’s quick tips for a successful LLM strategy: 

• Identify Suitable Tasks: Sanjay notes that LLMs like ChatGPT are impressive at first glance, but their performance can deteriorate in complex tasks. It’s important to look beyond the initial wow factor and assess the practical applications of LLMs. LLMs excel at tasks that don’t require absolute accuracy, such as brainstorming or providing a starting point for complex problems. 
• Recognize the Articulate Hallucination: LLMs can be “confidently incorrect.” They generate responses that sound knowledgeable but may contain fabricated information. It’s crucial to be aware of this and implement checks, such as calibrating the “temperature,” or degree of randomness, based on the task at hand—higher randomness for creative tasks and lower for factual queries. Furthermore, not all prompts should go to the same LLM. Sanjay suggests using a variety of models tailored to specific tasks, which can improve efficiency and accuracy. Also, before sending prompts to an LLM, enterprises should classify, sanitize, and engineer prompts to reduce the risk of jailbreak attempts and hallucinations. 
• Include Human Oversight: Despite advances in technology, human review remains an important part of the LLM implementation process, especially for ambiguous or sensitive outputs. After receiving responses from LLMs, enterprises should analyze the content for toxicity, relevance, and accuracy. LLMs require ongoing observation and maintenance. Performance can drift over time, so regular monitoring and retraining are necessary to keep the models aligned with enterprise needs. 

Sanjay’s insights highlight the transformative potential of LLMs while also cautioning an approach to their implementation with a blend of enthusiasm and pragmatism. He is incredibly insightful and articulate and has much, much more advice and examples to share. Watch the episode here.