Building AI Applications with Microsoft Semantic Kernel

Unlock the power of GenAI by effortlessly linking your C# and Python apps with cutting-edge models, orchestrating diverse AI services with finesse, and crafting bespoke applications through immersive, real-world examplesKey FeaturesLink your C# and Python applications with the latest AI models from OpenAICombine and orchestrate different AI services such as text and image generatorsCreate your own AI apps with real-world use case examples that show you how to use basic generative AI, create images, process documents, use a vector databasePurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionIn the fast-paced world of AI, developers are constantly seeking efficient ways to integrate AI capabilities into their apps. Microsoft Semantic Kernel simplifies this process by using the GenAI features from Microsoft and OpenAI.Written by Lucas A. Meyer, a Principal Research Scientist in Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, this book helps you get hands on with Semantic Kernel. It begins by introducing you to different generative AI services such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, demonstrating their integration with Semantic Kernel. You’ll then learn to craft prompt templates for reuse across various AI services and variables. Next, you’ll learn how to add functionality to Semantic Kernel by creating your own plugins. The second part of the book shows you how to combine multiple plugins to execute complex actions, and how to let Semantic Kernel use its own AI to solve complex problems by calling plugins, including the ones made by you. The book concludes by teaching you how to use vector databases to expand the memory of your AI services and how to help AI remember the context of earlier requests. You’ll also be guided through several real-world examples of applications, such as RAG and custom GPT agents.By the end of this book, you'll have gained the knowledge you need to start using Semantic Kernel to add AI capabilities to your applications.What you will learnWrite reusable AI prompts and connect to different AI providersCreate new plugins that extend the capabilities of AI servicesUnderstand how to combine multiple plugins to execute complex actionsOrchestrate multiple AI services to accomplish a taskLeverage the powerful planner to automatically create appropriate AI callsUse vector databases as additional memory for your AI tasksDeploy your application to ChatGPT, making it available to hundreds of millions of usersWho this book is forThis book is for beginner-level to experienced .NET or Python software developers who want to quickly incorporate the latest AI technologies into their applications, without having to learn the details of every new AI service. Product managers with some development experience will find this book helpful while creating proof-of-concept applications. This book requires working knowledge of programming basics.

Lucas A. Meyer is a Computer Scientist and Financial Economist with over two decades of experience in technology. Lucas joined Microsoft in 2002 to work with databases in Finance, joined Amazon in 2020 to work with fraud detection and prevention, and returned to Microsoft in 2022 as a Principal Research Scientist in the Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, where he works with Large Language Models (LLMs) and the Microsoft Semantic Kernel daily.Lucas' first NLP project, released in 2016, was a chatbot that streamlined several corporate finance operations and won the Adam Smith Award from London's Treasury Today. Lucas has an MBA and an M.Sc. in Finance from the University of Washington in Seattle.