The Foundations of MLops

The foundations of MLops are based on understanding the differences between generative AI models and traditional machine learning models. Generative AI models differ significantly from traditional models in their development, deployment, and operations requirements. When determining whether to utilize a generative AI model versus a standard model, organisations must evaluate the cost, as generative AI models are more complex and require more resources.

1. Cost is a major differentiator between generative AI models and traditional models.
2. Generative AI models are more complex and require more resources, leading to higher operational expenses.
3. Traditional models, on the other hand, often utilise pre-trained architectures or lightweight training processes, making them more affordable for many organisations.

Model Optimisation and Monitoring Techniques

Optimising models for specific use cases is crucial. For traditional ML, fine-tuning pre-trained models or training from scratch are common strategies. GenAI introduces additional options, such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), which allows the use of private data to provide context and ultimately improve model outputs.

1. Traditional models rely on well-defined metrics like accuracy, precision, and an F1 score, which are straightforward to evaluate.
2. Generative AI models often involve metrics that are a bit more subjective, such as user engagement or relevance.
3. Good metrics for genAI models are still lacking and it really comes down to the individual use case.

Advancements in ML Engineering

Traditional machine learning has long relied on open source solutions, from open source architectures like LSTM (long short-term memory) and YOLO (you only look once), to open source libraries like XGBoost and Scikit-learn. These solutions have become the standards for most challenges thanks to being accessible and versatile. For genAI, however, commercial solutions like OpenAI’s GPT models and Google’s Gemini currently dominate due to high costs and intricate training complexities.

1. Commercial solutions like OpenAI’s GPT models and Google’s Gemini currently dominate the genAI market.
2. Open-source alternatives like Llama and Stable Diffusion are gaining traction.
3. Open-source models can present licensing restrictions and integration challenges to ensuring ongoing compliance and efficiency.

Efficient Scaling of ML Systems

As more and more companies decide to invest in AI, there are best practices for data management and classification and architectural approaches that should be considered for scaling ML systems and ensuring high performance.

1. Leveraging internal data with RAG can help scale ML systems with genAI.
2. Important questions revolve around data: What is my internal data? How can I use it? Can I train based on this data with the correct structure?
3. Key architectural considerations include embeddings, prompts, and vector stores.

Metrics for Model Success

Aligning model outcomes with business objectives is essential. Metrics like customer satisfaction and click-through rates can measure real-world impact, helping organisations understand whether their models are delivering meaningful results. Human feedback is essential for evaluating generative models and remains the best practice.

1. Human feedback is essential for evaluating generative models and remains the best practice.
2. Human-in-the-loop systems help fine-tune metrics, check performance, and ensure models meet business goals.
3. Advanced generative AI tools can assist or replace human reviewers, making the process faster and more efficient.

Focus on Solutions, not just Models

The success of MLops hinges on building holistic solutions rather than isolated models. Solution architectures should combine a variety of ML approaches, including rule-based systems, embeddings, traditional models, and generative AI, to create robust and adaptable frameworks.

1. Organisations should ask themselves a few key questions to guide their AI/ML strategies.
2. Do we need a general-purpose solution or a specialised model?
3. How will we measure success and which metrics align with our goals?
4. What are the trade-offs between commercial and open-source solutions, and how do licensing and integration affect our choices?

By leveraging the right combination of tools and strategies, businesses can unlock the full potential of AI and machine learning to drive innovation and deliver measurable business results.

Yuval Fernbach is VP and CTO of MLops at JFrog.

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