Quick Start: Build GenAI Apps on SAP BTP in Minutes with GenAI Starter Kit! ✨

Introduction

Generative AI (GenAI) is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology, especially in crafting complex communications like emails and texts. At SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), developers can now leverage GenAI to create sophisticated applications easily and rapidly with the GenAI Starter Kit. This article explores how to quickly use large language models and build GenAI apps on SAP BTP.

Introduction

In this session, we’ll dive deep into the GenAI Starter Kit, guided by three experts: Nira, Vice President of Intelligent Enterprise at SAP, FGH, Development Architect at SAP BTP AI Team, and Pet, Chief Development Architect. Our goal is to help you get started with GenAI applications in mere minutes.

Overview of the GenAI Starter Kit

The GenAI Starter Kit is designed to simplify the setup of Generative AI applications on SAP BTP, comprising:

1. Infrastructure Setup: Automatically provisions your SAP BTP sub-account and configures necessary services using Terraform.
2. Example Applications: Includes pre-built applications demonstrating GenAI capabilities, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).
3. Guided Installations: Step-by-step instruction through Visual Studio Code, eliminating the need for extensive prior knowledge.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Setting up the Environment: The starter kit automates the infrastructure setup, establishing a sub-account, relevant services, and deploying key large language models.
2. Configuration: Download the required files from the GitHub repository, clone it into Visual Studio Code, and use Terraform scripts to manage your environment.
3. Running Sample Applications: After the initial setup, the starter kit provides sample applications that you can run to see GenAI in action.

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval Augmented Generation integrates external information retrieval with language model responses, enhancing the information accuracy and contextual relevance. This technique addresses the language model’s limitations, like outdated knowledge and inability to access company-specific data.

Live Demonstration

Through a live demonstration, the speakers showcase several examples, including:

• Naive RAG: Demonstrating basic retrieval and answer generation from an internal GitHub repository.
• Advanced RAG Techniques: Exploring query transformations and mixed data types (structured and unstructured).
• Integration of Vision Models: Upcoming capabilities whereby vision models work with textual data.

Benefits of Using GenAI Starter Kit

• Simplifies Development: Organizations can quickly adopt GenAI without extensive initial setup or dependency on third-party vendors.
• Integration with Existing Systems: The starter kit facilitates integrating GenAI applications seamlessly with SAP’s ecosystem.
• Extensible Framework: Developers can iterate on existing examples or build brand-new applications, making it a versatile tool.

Conclusion

The GenAI Starter Kit is an invaluable resource for developers looking to dive into the world of Generative AI on SAP BTP. With the capability to quickly set up environments, run sample applications, and leverage advanced AI techniques, the future of application development just became more approachable.

Keyword

• Generative AI
• SAP BTP
• GenAI Starter Kit
• Infrastructure Setup
• Retrieval Augmented Generation
• Terraform
• Visual Studio Code

FAQ

1. What is the GenAI Starter Kit?

   • The GenAI Starter Kit is a toolkit designed to help developers quickly set up and build applications using Generative AI on the SAP Business Technology Platform.

2. What are the main functionalities of the starter kit?

   • The kit automates the infrastructure setup, provides example applications, and includes a step-by-step guide for installation and running.

3. What is Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)?

   • RAG is a technique that combines external document retrieval with language model outputs to provide more accurate and contextually relevant responses.

4. Do I need to have programming expertise to use the GenAI Starter Kit?

   • While programming knowledge is beneficial, the starter kit is designed to simplify the process, making it easier for developers to get started without extensive prior experience.

5. Where can I access the GenAI Starter Kit?

   • The starter kit is available on GitHub within the SAP samples repository.