Description

Book Synopsis

Sinan Ozdemir is currently the founder and CTO of Shiba Technologies. Sinan is a former lecturer of Data Science at Johns Hopkins University and the author of multiple textbooks on data science and machine learning. Additionally, he is the founder of the recently acquired Kylie.ai, an enterprise-grade conversational AI platform with RPA capabilities. He holds a master's degree in Pure Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University and is based in San Francisco, CA.



Trade Review

"Ozdemir's book cuts through the noise to help readers understand where the LLM revolution has come from--and where it is going. Ozdemir breaks down complex topics into practical explanations and easy to follow code examples."
--Shelia Gulati, former GM at Microsoft and current Managing Director of Tola Capital

"When it comes to building Large Language Models (LLMs), it can be a daunting task to find comprehensive resources that cover all the essential aspects. However, my search for such a resource recently came to an end when I discovered this book.

"One of the stand-out features of Sinan is his ability to present complex concepts in a straightforward manner. The author has done an outstanding job of breaking down intricate ideas and algorithms, ensuring that readers can grasp them without feeling overwhelmed. Each topic is carefully explained, building upon examples that serve as steppingstones for better understanding. This approach greatly enhances the learning experience, making even the most intricate aspects of LLM development accessible to readers of varying skill levels.

"Another strength of this book is the abundance of code resources. The inclusion of practical examples and code snippets is a game-changer for anyone who wants to experiment and apply the concepts they learn. These code resources provide readers with hands-on experience, allowing them to test and refine their understanding. This is an invaluable asset, as it fosters a deeper comprehension of the material and enables readers to truly engage with the content.

"In conclusion, this book is a rare find for anyone interested in building LLMs. Its exceptional quality of explanation, clear and concise writing style, abundant code resources, and comprehensive coverage of all essential aspects make it an indispensable resource. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this book will undoubtedly elevate your understanding and practical skills in LLM development. I highly recommend Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models to anyone looking to embark on the exciting journey of building LLM applications."
--Pedro Marcelino, Machine Learning Engineer, Co-Founder and CEO @overfit.study



Table of Contents

Foreword xv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxi
About the Author xxiii

Part I: Introduction to Large Language Models 1

Chapter 1: Overview of Large Language Models 3
What Are Large Language Models? 4
Popular Modern LLMs 20
Domain-Specific LLMs 22
Applications of LLMs 23
Summary 29

Chapter 2: Semantic Search with LLMs 31
Introduction 31
The Task 32
Solution Overview 34
The Components 35
Putting It All Together 51
The Cost of Closed-Source Components 54
Summary 55

Chapter 3: First Steps with Prompt Engineering 57
Introduction 57
Prompt Engineering 57
Working with Prompts Across Models 65
Building a Q/A Bot with ChatGPT 69
Summary 74

Part II: Getting the Most Out of LLMs 75

Chapter 4: Optimizing LLMs with Customized Fine-Tuning 77
Introduction 77
Transfer Learning and Fine-Tuning: A Primer 78
A Look at the OpenAI Fine-Tuning API 82
Preparing Custom Examples with the OpenAI CLI 84
Setting Up the OpenAI CLI 87
Our First Fine-Tuned LLM 88
Case Study: Amazon Review Category Classification 93
Summary 95

Chapter 5: Advanced Prompt Engineering 97
Introduction 97
Prompt Injection Attacks 97
Input/Output Validation 99
Batch Prompting 103
Prompt Chaining 104
Chain-of-Thought Prompting 111
Revisiting Few-Shot Learning 113
Testing and Iterative Prompt Development 123
Summary 124

Chapter 6: Customizing Embeddings and Model Architectures 125
Introduction 125
Case Study: Building a Recommendation System 126
Summary 144

Part III: Advanced LLM Usage 145

Chapter 7: Moving Beyond Foundation Models 147
Introduction 147
Case Study: Visual Q/A 147
Case Study: Reinforcement Learning from Feedback 163
Summary 173

Chapter 8: Advanced Open-Source LLM Fine-Tuning 175
Introduction 175
Example: Anime Genre Multilabel Classification with BERT 176
Example: LaTeX Generation with GPT2 189
Sinan's Attempt at Wise Yet Engaging Responses: SAWYER 193
The Ever-Changing World of Fine-Tuning 206
Summary 207

Chapter 9: Moving LLMs into Production 209
Introduction 209
Deploying Closed-Source LLMs to Production 209
Deploying Open-Source LLMs to Production 210
Summary 225

Part IV: Appendices 227

Appendix A: LLM FAQs 229
Appendix B: LLM Glossary 233
Appendix C: LLM Application Archetypes 239

Index 243

Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models

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    £34.19

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    RRP £37.99 – you save £3.80 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 18 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Sinan Ozdemir

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      View other formats and editions of Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models by Sinan Ozdemir

      Publisher: Pearson Education (US)
      Publication Date: 03/10/2023
      ISBN13: 9780138199197, 978-0138199197
      ISBN10: 0138199191

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Sinan Ozdemir is currently the founder and CTO of Shiba Technologies. Sinan is a former lecturer of Data Science at Johns Hopkins University and the author of multiple textbooks on data science and machine learning. Additionally, he is the founder of the recently acquired Kylie.ai, an enterprise-grade conversational AI platform with RPA capabilities. He holds a master's degree in Pure Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University and is based in San Francisco, CA.



      Trade Review

      "Ozdemir's book cuts through the noise to help readers understand where the LLM revolution has come from--and where it is going. Ozdemir breaks down complex topics into practical explanations and easy to follow code examples."
      --Shelia Gulati, former GM at Microsoft and current Managing Director of Tola Capital

      "When it comes to building Large Language Models (LLMs), it can be a daunting task to find comprehensive resources that cover all the essential aspects. However, my search for such a resource recently came to an end when I discovered this book.

      "One of the stand-out features of Sinan is his ability to present complex concepts in a straightforward manner. The author has done an outstanding job of breaking down intricate ideas and algorithms, ensuring that readers can grasp them without feeling overwhelmed. Each topic is carefully explained, building upon examples that serve as steppingstones for better understanding. This approach greatly enhances the learning experience, making even the most intricate aspects of LLM development accessible to readers of varying skill levels.

      "Another strength of this book is the abundance of code resources. The inclusion of practical examples and code snippets is a game-changer for anyone who wants to experiment and apply the concepts they learn. These code resources provide readers with hands-on experience, allowing them to test and refine their understanding. This is an invaluable asset, as it fosters a deeper comprehension of the material and enables readers to truly engage with the content.

      "In conclusion, this book is a rare find for anyone interested in building LLMs. Its exceptional quality of explanation, clear and concise writing style, abundant code resources, and comprehensive coverage of all essential aspects make it an indispensable resource. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this book will undoubtedly elevate your understanding and practical skills in LLM development. I highly recommend Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models to anyone looking to embark on the exciting journey of building LLM applications."
      --Pedro Marcelino, Machine Learning Engineer, Co-Founder and CEO @overfit.study



      Table of Contents

      Foreword xv
      Preface xvii
      Acknowledgments xxi
      About the Author xxiii

      Part I: Introduction to Large Language Models 1

      Chapter 1: Overview of Large Language Models 3
      What Are Large Language Models? 4
      Popular Modern LLMs 20
      Domain-Specific LLMs 22
      Applications of LLMs 23
      Summary 29

      Chapter 2: Semantic Search with LLMs 31
      Introduction 31
      The Task 32
      Solution Overview 34
      The Components 35
      Putting It All Together 51
      The Cost of Closed-Source Components 54
      Summary 55

      Chapter 3: First Steps with Prompt Engineering 57
      Introduction 57
      Prompt Engineering 57
      Working with Prompts Across Models 65
      Building a Q/A Bot with ChatGPT 69
      Summary 74

      Part II: Getting the Most Out of LLMs 75

      Chapter 4: Optimizing LLMs with Customized Fine-Tuning 77
      Introduction 77
      Transfer Learning and Fine-Tuning: A Primer 78
      A Look at the OpenAI Fine-Tuning API 82
      Preparing Custom Examples with the OpenAI CLI 84
      Setting Up the OpenAI CLI 87
      Our First Fine-Tuned LLM 88
      Case Study: Amazon Review Category Classification 93
      Summary 95

      Chapter 5: Advanced Prompt Engineering 97
      Introduction 97
      Prompt Injection Attacks 97
      Input/Output Validation 99
      Batch Prompting 103
      Prompt Chaining 104
      Chain-of-Thought Prompting 111
      Revisiting Few-Shot Learning 113
      Testing and Iterative Prompt Development 123
      Summary 124

      Chapter 6: Customizing Embeddings and Model Architectures 125
      Introduction 125
      Case Study: Building a Recommendation System 126
      Summary 144

      Part III: Advanced LLM Usage 145

      Chapter 7: Moving Beyond Foundation Models 147
      Introduction 147
      Case Study: Visual Q/A 147
      Case Study: Reinforcement Learning from Feedback 163
      Summary 173

      Chapter 8: Advanced Open-Source LLM Fine-Tuning 175
      Introduction 175
      Example: Anime Genre Multilabel Classification with BERT 176
      Example: LaTeX Generation with GPT2 189
      Sinan's Attempt at Wise Yet Engaging Responses: SAWYER 193
      The Ever-Changing World of Fine-Tuning 206
      Summary 207

      Chapter 9: Moving LLMs into Production 209
      Introduction 209
      Deploying Closed-Source LLMs to Production 209
      Deploying Open-Source LLMs to Production 210
      Summary 225

      Part IV: Appendices 227

      Appendix A: LLM FAQs 229
      Appendix B: LLM Glossary 233
      Appendix C: LLM Application Archetypes 239

      Index 243

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