Build Your Own Smart Assistant on Your Data — Challenges

satish1v
3 min readApr 6, 2024

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Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Building your own smart assistant to find answers from your own data sounds like an exciting project, right? Well, let me tell you, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I quickly learned that there will be many challenges along the way as I started this journey myself.

One of the biggest hurdles is dealing with the sheer diversity of question types that your smart assistant needs to handle. It’s not just about simple, straightforward queries anymore. Oh no, you’ve got to be prepared for a whole spectrum of questions that will put your smart assistant to the test.

But here’s the thing: not all questions are created equal. Some are simple and straightforward, while others require a bit more finesse. And as I dove deeper into the development process, I discovered a whole spectrum of question types that my smart assistant needed to handle.

  1. Single-document questions: These are the easy-peasy ones where the answer is hidden in plain sight within a single document.
  2. Multi-document questions: These require the smart assistant to be a master detective, piecing together information from multiple sources.
  3. Aggregation questions: These make the smart assistant feel like a superhero, summarising the key points from a bunch of documents in a single, concise answer.
  4. Comparative questions: These put the smart assistant to the test, identifying the similarities and differences between documents or pieces of information.
  5. Analytical questions: These require the smart assistant to put on its thinking cap and dive deep into the data, uncovering hidden insights and patterns.
  6. Hypothetical questions: These make the smart assistant feel like a fortune teller, predicting potential outcomes based on the available information.
  7. Contextual questions: These require the smart assistant to be a master of reading between the lines and understanding the background information and context provided in the documents.
  8. Opinion-based questions: These let the smart assistant flex its subjective muscles, recommending products or ideas based on the opinions expressed in the documents.
  9. Verification questions: These make the smart assistant feel like a detective, fact-checking claims and statements against the evidence presented in the documents.

Building a smart assistant that can handle this whole spectrum of question types is no easy feat. It requires a lot of trial and error, a dash of creativity, and a whole lot of coffee. But the end result is so worth it.

Imagine being able to ask any type of question and having a system that can quickly find the answers for you, no matter how complex or obscure. It’s like having a personal genius at your fingertips, ready to tackle any information challenge you throw its way.

So, if you're considering creating your own smart assistant, don't let the variety of question types intimidate you. Embrace the challenge and get ready for a wild ride. And who knows, maybe one day your smart assistant will be the go-to source for all the answers you need (or at least in your own collection of data).

The beauty of building your own smart assistant is that you have complete control over the data it learns from. Whether you have a vast collection of PDFs, a database of customer information, or a treasure trove of research papers, your smart assistant can be tailored to your specific needs and domain.

So, roll up your sleeves, dive into your data, and start building your very own smart assistant. With a little bit of creativity and a lot of determination, you’ll be amazed at what you can create. And who knows? Maybe your smart assistant will become the secret weapon you never knew you needed.

Happy building, and may your smart assistant be the key to unlocking all the answers hidden in your data!

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satish1v
satish1v

Written by satish1v

I build intelligent Web Apps

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