Introduction to ai assistants - new Rhino plug-in!

Introduction

Hello, this is Tan, and in this video, I'm going to introduce the new AI Assistants plugin for Rhino. This plugin essentially allows you to turn your Grasshopper definitions into AI assistants. By providing them with an artificial brain, you and other users only need to interact with them through the ChatGPT interface of the plugin. We will go over the installation of this tool and learn to use it through various practical case studies, enabling you to think of different possibilities to implement this tool in your workflows.

Installation

First things first, let's see how to install this tool. The tool works for both Rhino 7 and Rhino 8. Here’s how to do it:

Open Rhino.
Open the Package Manager.
Type "AI" in the Package Manager.
You will see the AI Assistants plugin for Rhino. Click on Install.
You may need to restart Rhino so that you see the toolbar here: AI Assistants.
Load the user interface of the plugin by clicking on the AI Assistants button or typing the command aiassistant in the command bar.

For the best experience, dock the user interface to the right part of the Rhino window along with other toolbars.

Navigating the Plugin Interface

The plugin is composed of several tabs:

Assistant Tab

This is the ChatGPT interface. Initially, it shows that the assistant is not connected to any Grasshopper definition.

Grasshopper Tab

Load Grasshopper files that have been pre-processed into AI assistants.

GPT Settings Tab

This tab is very important:

API Key: When using GPT-4 in an external application, you need an API key. We offer a trial API key for basic usage, but you might want to provide your own API key.
GPT Model: Choose between three models: the basic one, GPT-3, and GPT-4.
Extras: On-demand support to bring your AI assistants online or use different GPT models hosted on Microsoft servers.

Info Tab

Useful information and links.

Using the Tool - Step by Step

First, you need to provide an instruction in your Grasshopper definition. For example, let's see a basic polygon area calculation.

Grasshopper Definition

The definition draws a polygon, calculates the area, and returns the summary.

Pre-processing

To turn your Grasshopper definition into an AI assistant:

Provide an instruction using the instruction component in Grasshopper.
Define inputs like numbers, Booleans, and strings.
Specify the outputs using the function result component.

Connecting to ChatGPT

Once pre-processed, load the Grasshopper script through the plugin. You can then start interacting with the AI assistant using natural language commands.

Practical Case Studies

Case Study 1: Membrane Geometries

Using the Kangaroo plugin, we generate membrane geometries. Simply ask the AI assistant to create or modify membrane structures and it will use predefined Grasshopper components to generate results.

Case Study 2: Trust Designer

Using Karamba 3D, you can design and optimize steel truss structures. Provide parameters like length and height, and the AI assistant will compute and return the optimized design.

Case Study 3: AI Engineer for Family Houses

The AI engineer helps design family houses and optimizes the design to reduce carbon footprints. Parameters like the number of stories and the number of bedrooms can be given, and it provides a detailed 3D model along with a lifecycle assessment.

In summary, the AI Assistants plugin leverages the power of ChatGPT and Grasshopper to create specialized tools for various design and engineering tasks in Rhino.

Keywords

AI Assistants
Rhino Plugin
Grasshopper
ChatGPT
Kangaroo Plugin
Karamba 3D
Structural Design
Membrane Geometries
Carbon Footprint

FAQ

What is the AI Assistants plugin for Rhino?

The plugin allows you to turn Grasshopper definitions into AI assistants that can be interacted with via the ChatGPT interface.

How do I install the plugin?

Open Rhino, go to the Package Manager, search for "AI," and install the AI Assistants plugin. Restart Rhino to see the toolbar.

Can I use the AI Assistant plugin for free?

You can use the plugin with a trial API key for limited usage. For extended use, you need to obtain your own API key from OpenAI.

What models are available in the GPT Settings tab?

You can choose from a basic model, GPT-3, and GPT-4 depending on your requirements and subscription.

How do I connect Grasshopper definitions to ChatGPT?

First, pre-process your Grasshopper definitions by adding instructions, defining inputs, and specifying outputs. Then, load the file through the Grasshopper tab in the plugin.

Can I use this plugin to optimize designs?

Yes, real-world case studies like generating membrane geometries and optimizing truss structures and family house designs can be handled effectively.