Integrating AI with External APIs: Building a Marvel MCP Server

Image from the Marvel API Summary Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP) Ever wish your AI assistant could tap into external APIs, fetch live data, or interact with tools beyond its built-in knowledge? That’s exactly what the Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables. MCP is a standardized way for AI systems to discover available tools, send them inputs, and get back results in a consistent format. It’s a powerful way to extend what AI can do—especially for things like making API calls or querying databases, which models can’t do on their own. Think of it as the Rosetta Stone between AI […]

Using RealTime AI – Part 1: Getting Started with the Fundamentals of Low-Latency AI Magic

Have you ever wished your AI could keep up with you—like, actually match your pace? You know, the kind of speed where you toss out a question and get a snappy reply before you’ve even blinked twice? Enter Realtime AI—a total game-changer that I’ll have to admit had me grinning like I had just unlocked a secret superpower the first time I got it running. In this first installment of the RealTime AI series, I’ll break down what Realtime AI is for you, why it’s awesome, and provide you with a first look at the RealTime AI App—a fun demo […]

AI Time-Travel: Your JavaScript Quest Begins!

Generative AI for Beginners – A JavaScript Adventure. Code with Legends, Conquer the Future! Imagine sipping espresso with Leonardo da Vinci, debating AI over sketches of flying machines. Or quizzing Ada Lovelace on code in her misty mansion. The Generative AI for Beginners – A JavaScript Adventure course (free on GitHub!) blends time-traveling thrills with hands-on JavaScript AI concepts. No time machine required—just curiosity and a keyboard! Generative AI is the secret sauce behind next-level chatbots, content wizards, and modern apps. For JavaScript devs, it’s your ticket to crafting smarter and more productive apps for users. This course? It’s your […]

What are Some Good Generative AI Prompt Engineering Resources?

One AI question I get a lot is, “What are some good prompt engineering resources?”. Here are a few I’ve found useful: ✅ OpenAI Prompt Engineering Documentation✅ Azure OpenAI: Introduction to Prompt Engineering✅ Prompt Engineering Guide✅ AI Builder Prompt Engineering Guide (PDF)✅ DeepLearning.AI: ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers✅ Brex’s Prompt Engineering Guide There are many more out there, but these will help get you started. If you have a favorite, please add a comment so others can see it too. If you want to start using prompts in different Generative AI scenarios and learn more about AI building blocks in general, check out: ✅ OpenAI Cookbook (examples […]

Video: Taking Your Line of Business Apps to the Next Level with OpenAI and GPT Models, Communication and Organizational Data

I had the incredible opportunity to grace the stage at the 2023 ng-conf conference in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah this past June. Every year, I look forward to this event, and it’s not just because of the scenic views or the pristine organization of the conference. The magic truly lies in the amazing people I get to chat with and the new friendships I forge. If you’re after a blend of fun, entertainment, and education, ng-conf is the place to be. Plus, let’s not forget the golden opportunity it provides to expand your network. This year, I talked about […]

The ABCs of AI Transformers, Tokens, and Embeddings: A LEGO Story

Introduction AI transformers have rapidly become one of the most popular and effective architectures in natural language processing and artificial intelligence. But what exactly are transformers, and how do they leverage embeddings to achieve state-of-the-art results on tasks like translation and text generation? In this post, I’ll attempt to demystify tokens, embedding, and transformers by unveiling the magic behind their near-human linguistic abilities using a simple analogy – language is like LEGOs! While the overall goal is to introduce you to the key concepts, you’ll find additional links at the bottom of the post that will allow you to dive […]

Getting Started with Azure OpenAI and GPT Models

Introduction In this post, we’ll explore how you can get started using Azure OpenAI. We’ll take a look at setting up a resource using the Azure Portal, learn how to deploy a model, and experiment with the model in Azure OpenAI Studio. If you’d like to see a quick overview of everything covered in this post, check out the following “getting started” video. Getting Started with Azure OpenAI in 6-ish Minutes Let’s dive right in! Step 1: Create an Azure OpenAI Resource Head over to the Azure Portal and locate the search bar at the top of the page. Search […]

TypeChat: Define Schemas for Your OpenAI Prompts 

Have you ever spent hours carefully crafting the perfect OpenAI prompt, trying to coax your AI model into generating just the right response? As an AI developer, I know that struggle all too well especially when it comes to returning structured JSON. What if there was an easier way to retrieve JSON responses from OpenAI and Azure OpenAI models? Meet TypeChat – an open source project from Microsoft that aims to make working with AI more efficient across different types of AI models by using TypeScript types (called “schemas”). Created by Anders Hejlsberg and team, TypeChat allows you to define […]

Integrate OpenAI, Communication, and Organizational Data Features into Your Apps

Artificial intelligence, communication, and organizational data are three pillars that can help take your custom Line of Business (LOB) applications to the next level. Each pillar brings unique capabilities to the table and enhances the functionality, usability, and productivity of applications and users. In this post you’ll learn more about these three pillars and how they can be integrated into apps using Microsoft Cloud services such as Azure OpenAI, Azure Communication Services (ACS), and Microsoft Graph. After you learn about the pillars, you can get hands-on experience provisioning cloud services and working with code in a hands-on tutorial available at https://aka.ms/openai-acs-msgraph.  […]

Docker for Developers: Understanding the Core Concepts

This post is based on a section from my Docker for Web Developers course on Pluralsight. Introduction Docker and containers in general continue to receive a lot of attention, and it’s well-deserved. But, you may have found yourself wondering, “What exactly is Docker? Can it be useful for developers like me?” When I first encountered Docker at conferences and user group talks, I wondered whether it had a place in my overall work flow and how I’d use it in different environments such as development, staging, and production. But as I dug deeper, I discovered that Docker can significantly impact […]