Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Bridging Information Retrieval and Text Generation for Smarter AI

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) in Natural Language Processing

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    What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation?

      Definition

      Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an NLP framework that combines information retrieval with text generation.

      Functionality

      It allows large language models (like ChatGPT) to access external knowledge sources (e.g., Wikipedia, databases) to produce more accurate, factual, and up-to-date responses.

      Origin

      Developed by Facebook AI (Meta) in 2020.

      Example

      Instead of relying only on what it was trained on, RAG can “look up” information before answering — like how humans quickly search Google before replying.

      Architecture of RAG

        Query Input

        The model receives a user question.

        Retrieval Step

        A retriever model (like DPR or BM25) searches external documents for relevant info.

        Augmentation Step

        The retrieved passages are combined with the query.

        Generation Step

        A generator model (usually a transformer like BART or T5) uses both the query and documents to generate the final answer.

        Applications and Benefits of RAG

          Question Answering Systems

          e.g., enterprise chatbots

          Knowledge-based Assistants

          e.g., medical, legal domains

          Document Summarization

          Summarizing large documents

          Search-Augmented AI Tools

          Improving AI search functionality

          Applications and Benefits of RAG

            Improves accuracy and reliability

            Provides more accurate and reliable responses

            Allows dynamic knowledge updates

            Enables real-time updates to the knowledge base

            Reduces model size needs

            No need to store all data in parameters

            Enables domain customization

            Allows feeding specific databases for customization

            Conclusion

              RAG Summary

              RAG is a powerful hybrid NLP model that merges retrieval and generation to make AI smarter, more factual, and adaptable.

              Future of Language Models

              It represents the next step in language model evolution, combining contextual understanding with real-time information access.

              Expected Impact

              Expected to shape future AI systems for research, enterprise, and education.

              Thank You

              Thank you for your attention. We hope this presentation helped you understand how Retrieval-Augmented Generation is transforming modern NLP.