Building Generative AI Applications with Llama

Generative AI is transforming how we build software, but relying solely on proprietary, closed-source models can limit your control and increase costs. By learning to build applications with Llama, you unlock the power of highly capable open-source large language models. This text-based course guides you through the entire process of developing intelligent applications using Llama. You will transition from understanding core large language model concepts to building practical, customized AI solutions that can reason over your own data. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational architecture of Llama and open-source language models; Apply modern prompt engineering techniques to guide model behavior and output structure; Configure Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) using vector databases to connect Llama to external data; Build custom conversational interfaces and text-generation workflows; Practice evaluating model outputs for accuracy, safety, and performance; Explore deployment strategies for hosting open-source models efficiently. The course starts with essential AI terminology and foundational setup, then moves sequentially through prompt design, data integration, and application development. You will read through detailed conceptual explanations and analyze functional code snippets designed for practical implementation. This course is designed for aspiring AI developers, software engineers, and technology enthusiasts who are new to building with open-source language models. No prior experience with artificial intelligence or machine learning is required, though basic programming familiarity is helpful. Start reading today and build your first Llama-powered generative AI application.