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Create a Custom Slackbot LLM Agent with NVIDIA NIM and LangChain

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Building Custom Slackbots with NVIDIA NIM Microservices

Define Your Requirements

To create a custom Slackbot with NVIDIA NIM microservices, start by defining the requirements of your agent. This includes determining the types of tools you want to integrate, the workflows you want to automate, and the user experience you want to provide.

In this example, we’ll create a Slackbot that uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) models to answer user queries and perform tasks.

Create the LLM Agent

To create the LLM agent, you’ll need to choose an NLP model and define the tools and prompts used in the agent. For this example, we’ll use the NVIDIA LLaMA model and the LangChain library.

import os
from langchain import AgentWithLLM
from langchain.prompts import PromptTemplate

# Define the LLM agent
llm_agent = AgentWithLLM(
    llm="llama-7B-3", 
    devices=["cuda:0"]
)

# Define the prompts and tools used in the agent
tools = []
prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template("This is the prompt")

Save Interactions in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

To save interactions between the user and the agent, you’ll need to connect to an Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL database and save the interactions in a table. Here’s an example of how you can do this:

import psycopg2

# Connect to the database
conn = psycopg2.connect(
    dbname=os.getenv('DB_NAME'),
    user=os.getenv('DB_USER'),
    password=os.getenv('DB_PASSWORD'),
    host=os.getenv('DB_HOST'),
    port=os.getenv('DB_PORT')
)

# Create a cursor object
c = conn.cursor()

# Define the table structure
c.execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS history (
        user_id INTEGER,
        thread_id INTEGER,
        channel_name TEXT,
        message_text TEXT,
        response TEXT
    )
""")

# Save an interaction
c.execute("INSERT INTO history VALUES (%s, %s, %s, %s, %s)",
          (user_id, thread_id, channel_name, message_text, response))
conn.commit()

Managing Agent Interactions and Memory

To manage agent interactions and memory, you can use a memory service such as Amazon DynamoDB. This will allow you to track conversation sessions and maintain context.

import boto3

# Create a DynamoDB resource
dynamodb = boto3.resource('dynamodb')

# Create a DynamoDB table
table = dynamodb.create_table(
    TableName='SessionTable',
    KeySchema=[
        {
            'AttributeName': 'SessionId',
            'KeyType': 'HASH'
        }
    ],
    AttributeDefinitions=[
        {
            'AttributeName': 'SessionId',
            'AttributeType': 'S'
        }
    ],
    BillingMode='PAY_PER_REQUEST'
)

# Create a session object
session = dynamodb.Table('SessionTable')

Next Steps and Enhancements

To further optimize your Slackbot, consider the following enhancements:

  • Integrate more NLP and ML models to improve the agent’s abilities.
  • Add more tools and prompts to the agent’s vocabulary.
  • Implement error handling and exception handling to handle unexpected errors and edge cases.
  • Optimize the agent’s memory usage by using a memory-efficient storage solution.

Keep Exploring Beyond Custom Slackbots

AI agents are transforming enterprise applications by automating tasks, optimizing processes, and boosting productivity. NVIDIA NIM microservices offer a seamless way to integrate multiple agents and tools, enabling businesses to create tailored AI-driven solutions.

Revolutionizing Language Understanding

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Ai2 Releases OLMo 2: A Family of Open-Source Language Models Advancing AI Democratization

OLMo 2 Model Training Breakthrough

Ai2 has released OLMo 2, a family of open-source language models that narrows the gap between open and proprietary solutions. The new models, available in 7B and 13B parameter versions, are trained on up to 5 trillion tokens and demonstrate performance levels that match or exceed comparable fully open models while remaining competitive with open-weight models such as Llama 3.1 on English academic benchmarks.

The development team achieved these improvements through several innovations, including enhanced training stability measures, staged training approaches, and state-of-the-art post-training methodologies derived from their Tülu 3 framework. Notable technical improvements include the switch from nonparametric layer norm to RMSNorm and the implementation of rotary positional embedding.

OLMo 2 Model Training

The training process employed a sophisticated two-stage approach. The initial stage utilized the OLMo-Mix-1124 dataset of approximately 3.9 trillion tokens, sourced from DCLM, Dolma, Starcoder, and Proof Pile II. The second stage incorporated a carefully curated mixture of high-quality web data and domain-specific content through the Dolmino-Mix-1124 dataset.

OLMo 2-Instruct-13B Variant

Particularly noteworthy is the OLMo 2-Instruct-13B variant, which is the most capable model in the series. The model demonstrates superior performance compared to Qwen 2.5 14B instruct, Tülu 3 8B, and Llama 3.1 8B instruct models across various benchmarks.

Benchmarks

(Credit: Ai2)

Committing to Open Science

Reinforcing its commitment to open science, Ai2 has released comprehensive documentation including weights, data, code, recipes, intermediate checkpoints, and instruction-tuned models. This transparency allows for full inspection and reproduction of results by the wider AI community.

Evaluation Framework

The release also introduces an evaluation framework called OLMES (Open Language Modeling Evaluation System), comprising 20 benchmarks designed to assess core capabilities such as knowledge recall, commonsense reasoning, and mathematical reasoning.

Conclusion

OLMo 2 raises the bar in open-source AI development, potentially accelerating the pace of innovation in the field while maintaining transparency and accessibility.

FAQs

Q: What is OLMo 2?
A: OLMo 2 is a family of open-source language models released by Ai2.

Q: What are the key features of OLMo 2?
A: The key features of OLMo 2 include enhanced training stability measures, staged training approaches, and state-of-the-art post-training methodologies.

Q: What is the OLMES evaluation framework?
A: OLMES is an evaluation framework designed to assess the core capabilities of language models, including knowledge recall, commonsense reasoning, and mathematical reasoning.

Q: Why is OLMo 2 important for the AI community?
A: OLMo 2 is important for the AI community because it advances the democratization of AI and narrows the gap between open and proprietary solutions, promoting transparency and accessibility in AI development.

Stretchable Screen Tech

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Conclusion

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FAQs

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A: Our website is dedicated to providing the latest news and updates on AI tools and innovations.

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Q: How can I get in touch with you?
A: You can contact us at mattwolfe@smoothmedia.co for inquiries about brand, sponsorship, or business opportunities.

Generative AI Use Soars

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The Cost of Intelligence: Generative AI’s Carbon Footprint

The Growing Demand for GenAI

A survey by CloudNine PR shows that 83% of UK adults are aware of generative AI tools, and 45% of those familiar with them want companies to be transparent about the environmental costs associated with the technologies.

The Environmental Impact of GenAI

Behind every AI-generated email, idea, or recommendation are data centres running thousands of energy-hungry servers. Data centres are responsible for both training the large language models that power generative AI and processing individual user queries. Unlike a simple Google search, which uses relatively little energy, a single generative AI request can consume up to ten times as much electricity.

The Numbers are Staggering

If all nine billion daily Google searches worldwide were replaced with generative AI tasks, the additional electricity demand would match the annual energy consumption of 1.5 million EU residents. According to consultants Morgan Stanley, the energy demands of generative AI are expected to grow by 70% annually until 2027. By that point, the energy required to support generative AI systems could rival the electricity needs of an entire country—Spain, for example, based on its 2022 usage.

UK Consumers Want Greener AI Practices

The survey also highlights growing awareness among UK consumers about the environmental implications of generative AI. Nearly one in five respondents said they don’t trust generative AI providers to manage their environmental impact responsibly. Among regular users of these tools, 10% expressed a willingness to pay a premium for products or services that prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability.

Efforts to Tackle the Environmental Challenge

Fortunately, some companies and policymakers are beginning to address these concerns. In the United States, the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act was introduced earlier this year. The legislation aims to standardise how AI companies measure and report carbon emissions. It also provides a voluntary framework for developers to evaluate and disclose their systems’ environmental impact, pushing the industry towards greater transparency.

Conclusion

The urgent need to address the environmental impact of generative AI is clear. As Uday Radia, owner of CloudNine PR, puts it: "Generative AI has huge potential to make our lives better, but there is a race against time to make it more sustainable before it gets out of control."

FAQs

Q: What is generative AI?
A: Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can generate human-like content, such as text, images, or audio.

Q: What is the environmental impact of generative AI?
A: Generative AI requires large amounts of energy to power data centres, which can lead to significant carbon emissions.

Q: How can companies reduce the environmental impact of generative AI?
A: Companies can adopt energy-efficient hardware, use sustainable cooling methods in data centres, and transition to renewable energy sources.

Q: What is being done to address the environmental concerns surrounding generative AI?
A: Some companies and policymakers are introducing legislation and initiatives to standardise carbon emissions reporting and push the industry towards greater transparency.

Unkillable UEFI Bootkit for Linux

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New UEFI Bootkit Targets Linux Machines

Over the past decade, a new class of infections has threatened Windows users. By infecting the firmware that runs immediately before the operating system loads, these UEFI bootkits continue to run even when the hard drive is replaced or reformatted. Now the same type of chip-dwelling malware has been found in the wild for backdooring Linux machines.

Discovery and Analysis

Researchers at security firm ESET said Wednesday that Bootkitty—the name unknown threat actors gave to their Linux bootkit—was uploaded to VirusTotal earlier this month. Compared to its Windows cousins, Bootkitty is still relatively rudimentary, containing imperfections in key under-the-hood functionality and lacking the means to infect all Linux distributions other than Ubuntu. That has led the company researchers to suspect the new bootkit is likely a proof-of-concept release. To date, ESET has found no evidence of actual infections in the wild.

The Bootkitty ASCII Logo

Implications and Precautions

Still, Bootkitty suggests threat actors may be actively developing a Linux version of the same sort of unkillable bootkit that previously was found only targeting Windows machines.

“Whether a proof of concept or not, Bootkitty marks an interesting move forward in the UEFI threat landscape, breaking the belief about modern UEFI bootkits being Windows-exclusive threats,” ESET researchers wrote. “Even though the current version from VirusTotal does not, at the moment, represent a real threat to the majority of Linux systems, it emphasizes the necessity of being prepared for potential future threats.”

What is a Bootkit?

A rootkit is a piece of malware that runs in the deepest regions of the operating system it infects. It leverages this strategic position to hide information about its presence from the operating system itself. A bootkit, meanwhile, is malware that infects the UEFI—short for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface—in much the same way. By lurking undetected in the firmware that resides on a chip and runs each time a machine boots, bootkits can persist indefinitely, providing a stealthy means for backdooring the operating system even before it has fully loaded and enabled security defenses such as antivirus software.

How Bootkits Work

The bar for installing a bootkit is high. An attacker first must gain administrative control of the targeted machine, either through physical access while it’s unlocked or somehow exploiting a critical vulnerability in the OS. Under those circumstances, attackers already have the ability to install OS-resident malware. Bootkits, however, are much more powerful since they (1) run before the OS does and (2) are, at least practically speaking, undetectable and unremovable.

Conclusion

While the current version of Bootkitty may not pose a significant threat to most Linux systems, it is essential for users to remain vigilant and prepared for potential future threats. As the security landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to stay informed about the latest developments in malware and to take steps to protect your systems from infection.

FAQs

Q: What is a UEFI bootkit?

A: A UEFI bootkit is malware that infects the firmware that runs immediately before the operating system loads.

Q: How do bootkits work?

A: Bootkits work by infecting the firmware that resides on a chip and runs each time a machine boots. This allows them to persist indefinitely, providing a stealthy means for backdooring the operating system.

Q: How do I protect my system from bootkits?

A: To protect your system from bootkits, it is essential to stay informed about the latest developments in malware and to take steps to secure your systems. This includes keeping your operating system and software up to date, using reputable antivirus software, and being cautious when downloading files from the internet.

Q: Is Bootkitty a real threat to my Linux system?

A: While Bootkitty is currently a proof-of-concept release and does not pose a significant threat to most Linux systems, it is essential to remain vigilant and prepared for potential future threats.

£200 Off Top-Reviewed Windows Laptop for Creatives

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The Best Laptops for Creative Professionals: ASUS ProArt P16

One of the Finest Laptops Released This Year

One of the finest laptops released this year is the ASUS ProArt P16, the bold and powerful creative workstation successor to the much-vaunted Studiobook. This 4K touchscreen-equipped powerhouse already undercut its MacBook Pro equivalent (the M3 Pro) on price, while outperforming it in several categories.

Black Friday Deals

And for UK deal hunters, this Black Friday brings joyous news in the form of a very nice £200 discount on both the 32GB and 64GB versions of it. The lower-specced (but still mighty) 32GB RAM version is down to £2,299.99 at ASUS, while the fearsome 64GB version is £2,599.99 on Amazon.

What Makes the ASUS ProArt P16 So Special

As our ASUS ProArt P16 review so emphatically points out, this flagship creator workstation from the Taiwanese innovators is about as good a laptop for creative pros as there has ever been. It breezed through all our benchmark tests, the ASUS Dial integrated into the touchpad is a huge creative boon, and the 4K touchscreen OLED gives it a massive leg up on its Apple rival.

The Best Deal Today

In case you are looking for something slightly cheaper, or with a different spec, screen size or features, check out our guide to the best laptops on the market right now.

The Best ASUS ProArt P16 Deal Today

Below you’ll find the best deals and lowest prices on the ASUS ProArt P16 wherever you are in the world, using our clever deals widget updating 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the discount on the ASUS ProArt P16?
A: The 32GB version is down to £2,299.99, and the 64GB version is £2,599.99.

Q: How does the ASUS ProArt P16 compare to the MacBook Pro?
A: The ProArt P16 outperforms the MacBook Pro in several categories and is priced lower.

Q: What are the key features of the ASUS ProArt P16?
A: The laptop features a 4K touchscreen, ASUS Dial integrated into the touchpad, and is suitable for creative professionals.

Q: Can I find different spec, screen size or features of the ASUS ProArt P16?
A: Yes, check out our guide to the best laptops on the market right now for more options.

LLMs and GenAI: When to Use Them

Here is the rewritten article:

Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI: The Future of Business

(DariaRen/Shutterstock)

Recent advancements in AI have brought forth a new generation of tools that can process and generate human-like content across multiple modalities. At the forefront of this revolution are Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. While both fall under the broad umbrella of artificial intelligence, they serve different purposes and excel in distinct areas.

LLMs: The Language Experts

LLMs, like OpenAI’s GPT series or Google’s Gemini, are AI systems trained on vast amounts of textual data. These models have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in understanding and generating human-like text, making them particularly adept at:

  • Natural language processing tasks (e.g., text summarization, translation)
  • Information retrieval and question-answering
  • Content generation and augmentation
  • Sentiment analysis and customer intent prediction

Generative AI: The Multi-Modal Content Creators

Generative AI encompasses a broader category of AI systems designed to create new content across various mediums. While LLMs can be considered a subset of generative AI focused on text, the term often refers to systems that can produce:

  • Images and artwork (e.g., DALL-E, Midjourney)
  • Audio and music (e.g., Jukebox by OpenAI)
  • Video content
  • 3D models and designs

Strategic Applications in Business

To illustrate the potential of these technologies, let’s examine some hypothetical scenarios of how companies could leverage LLMs and generative AI to create value and gain competitive advantage.

Example 1: Enhancing Customer Service with LLMs

Imagine a global telecommunications company implementing an LLM-powered chatbot to handle customer inquiries. The potential results could be significant:

  • 35% reduction in call center volume
  • 28% improvement in customer satisfaction scores
  • $15 million annual cost savings

The key to such success would be the LLM’s ability to understand context and nuance in customer queries, providing more accurate and helpful responses than traditional rule-based chatbots.

Example 2: Accelerating Product Design with Generative AI

Consider a leading consumer electronics manufacturer integrating generative AI into their product design process. The impact could be transformative:

  • 50% reduction in time-to-market for new products
  • 40% increase in design iterations explored
  • 25% improvement in customer ratings for product aesthetics

By using generative AI to quickly produce and iterate on design concepts, the company could explore a wider range of possibilities and refine designs based on rapid prototyping and feedback.

The 5A Framework

To help business leaders navigate the implementation of these AI technologies, we propose the following “5A” framework:

  1. Assess: Identify key business processes that could benefit from AI augmentation
  2. Align: Match the specific capabilities of LLMs or generative AI to your business needs
  3. Augment: Start with small-scale pilots to augment existing processes rather than replace them entirely
  4. Analyze: Measure the impact of AI implementation on key performance indicators
  5. Adapt: Continuously refine and expand the use of AI based on learnings and evolving business needs

Challenges and Considerations

While the potential of LLMs and generative AI is significant, business leaders must also be aware of the challenges:

  • Data Privacy and Security: Ensure that the use of these technologies complies with data protection regulations and company privacy policies
  • Ethics: Address potential biases in AI outputs and establish guidelines for responsible AI use
  • Integrations: Plan for the technical challenges of integrating AI technologies with legacy systems and workflows
  • Workforce Impact: Prepare for the organizational changes that AI implementation may bring, including the need for reskilling and new roles

Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Business

As these technologies continue to evolve, we anticipate seeing:

  • Increased integration of LLMs and generative AI, leading to more versatile and powerful AI systems
  • The emergence of industry-specific AI models trained on proprietary data sets
  • Greater emphasis on explainable AI to build trust and meet regulatory requirements
  • New business models and revenue streams enabled by AI-generated content and insights

LLMs and generative AI both represent a significant leap forward in artificial intelligence capabilities. As with any transformative technology, the key to success lies in thoughtful implementation, continuous learning, and a willingness to reimagine traditional business processes.

About the Author

Jason Guarracino is a senior technical product manager at data.world, the data catalog provider. At data.world, Guarracino leads the AI Context Engine, a technology that leverages knowledge graph and semantic web standards to deliver highly accurate and trustworthy AI-driven answers.

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I’ll Give PSVR2 Another Shot

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US Console Deals

If you’re shopping for a games console this Black Friday, then you’re in luck. I’ve found some genuinely good bundle and standalone deals on some of the best next-gen game consoles and some VR headsets too, from a host of retailers including Walmart and Amazon.

Xbox Series X and Series S Consoles

  • Xbox Series X: $399 (was $499) at Walmart
  • Xbox Series S: $299 (was $399) at Amazon

PlayStation 5 Consoles

  • PlayStation 5: $399 (was $499) at Best Buy
  • PlayStation 5 Pro: $499 (was $599) at GameStop

Nintendo Switch Consoles

  • Nintendo Switch: $299 (was $299) at Best Buy
  • Nintendo Switch OLED: $359 (was $359) at Walmart
  • Nintendo Switch Lite: $199 (was $199) at Amazon

UK Console Deals

  • PlayStation 5: £349 (was £449) at Currys PC World
  • Xbox Series X: £349 (was £449) at Argos
  • Nintendo Switch: £249 (was £299) at Smyths Toys

VR Headsets

  • Oculus Quest 2: $179 (was $299) at Amazon
  • PlayStation VR: $199 (was $299) at Best Buy

Retro Games Consoles

If you’re not much of a modern gamer, you should definitely check out our guide to the best retro games consoles, or if you already own a console and just need some new titles to play, I created a roundup yesterday of the best Black Friday game deals (with up to 80% off) so definitely check this out.

Conclusion

Black Friday is the perfect time to grab a new console, and with these deals, you can get your hands on some of the best next-gen game consoles and VR headsets at a discounted price. Don’t miss out on these amazing offers and upgrade your gaming experience today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are these deals available online or in-store?
A: Most of these deals are available online, but some retailers may also offer in-store deals. Please check the retailer’s website or store for availability.

Q: Are these deals limited in quantity?
A: Yes, some of these deals may be limited in quantity, so act fast to secure your console.

Q: Do I need to sign up for a subscription or membership to get these deals?
A: No, you do not need to sign up for a subscription or membership to get these deals. Simply visit the retailer’s website or store to make a purchase.

xAI App

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Elon Musk’s xAI Set to Launch Standalone App for Grok Chatbot

Musk’s Alternative to OpenAI

Elon Musk created xAI as an alternative to OpenAI, the company he helped found but later distanced himself from over ideological differences. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that xAI is planning to launch an app as soon as December that could go head-to-head with OpenAI’s ChatGPT as it races to scale up.

Grok’s Current State

Currently, users can access Grok through X, but only if they subscribe to the service. Citing unnamed sources, the Journal reports that xAI is also behind customer support features for Starlink, part of Musk’s other company, SpaceX. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

Competition in the Market

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude already have their own apps and free products, making Grok an outlier among other chatbots.

What’s Next?

The planned standalone app for Grok could be a significant move by xAI to challenge OpenAI’s dominance in the market. With the launch, users may have more options for AI-powered chatbots, which could lead to increased competition and innovation in the space.

FAQs

Q: What is xAI?
A: xAI is an alternative to OpenAI, created by Elon Musk.

Q: What is Grok?
A: Grok is a chatbot developed by xAI.

Q: Why is xAI launching a standalone app for Grok?
A: The app is expected to be launched in December, but the exact reason for the launch is not specified.

Q: How does Grok differ from other chatbots?
A: Currently, Grok is only accessible through X, and its features may differ from those of other chatbots.

Herman Miller Chairs: 30% Off for Black Friday

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Herman Miller Black Friday Deals

Get Ready to Save on Iconic Office Chairs

Herman Miller is outdoing itself this Black Friday. The iconic furniture brand is offering 25% off all its office chairs – which include some of the most iconic in the world – plus an extra 5% off with the code SAVE5. That brings the unique Sayl chair down from $735 to $523.

The Benefits of Buying Direct from Herman Miller

When you buy direct from Herman Miller, you get an unmatchable 12-year warranty on your chair. That really makes these deals special.

Expertly Designed and Made with the Best Materials

When I’ve tested Herman Miller office chairs as part of my list of the best office chairs for back pain, they always get glowing reviews. It’s because they are expertly designed, and made from the best materials. The Embody is only one of two chairs that I’ve ever given a full 5/5 stars to.

Herman Miller Black Friday Deals: Highlights

  • 25% off all office chairs
  • Extra 5% off with code SAVE5
  • 12-year warranty when buying direct from Herman Miller

A Note for Our International Readers

If you’re not in the US, have a look at the best deals on Herman Miller chairs wherever you are in the world…

Conclusion

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to upgrade your workspace with a iconic Herman Miller chair. With 25% off and an extra 5% off with code SAVE5, now is the perfect time to treat yourself or your team to the best.

FAQs

Q: What chairs are included in the sale?
A: All Herman Miller office chairs are included in the sale.

Q: How do I apply the extra 5% discount?
A: Use code SAVE5 at checkout to apply the extra 5% discount.

Q: What is the 12-year warranty?
A: The 12-year warranty is exclusive to Herman Miller products and covers repairs and replacements for any defects or issues with your chair.