Prompt Engineering

A recent report card released by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) shows that roads, bridges and other transportation related infrastructures of the United States received grades between D and C, i.e., poor to mediocre. The most recent Illinois Report Card is no better; the overall score of Illinois infrastructure is C-. Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and our daily lives. The demand for new and improved infrastructure and the maintenance of the existing one has reached an all-time high. It is crucial for us to prepare trained and skilled construction workforce to meet this demand. The skilled workforce in the construction industry is not limited to engineers and managers only. The profession recognizes the need of intermediate technical personnel who can understand the language of civil engineering and implement them accordingly in the field.

The course commences in October, encompassing a total of eight modules. Each module will be delivered through live three-hour online sessions. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of prompt engineering, including:

• Foundations of AI and large language models
• Prompt engineering design and workflow
• Prompting strategies and techniques
• Challenges and complexities in prompt engineering
• Application of AI prompts across diverse industry verticals
• Ethical considerations and future developments in the field
• Design thinking and systems thinking for creating AI applications through prompt engineering

By offering an in-depth exploration of prompt engineering and its practical applications, we aim to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in AI-driven solutions across many domains. After this course, you should be able to iteratively improve an initial design created by AI using design thinking and systems thinking strategies in an interdisciplinary and multimodal framework.

• Eligible to work in the US
• Be 21 years of age or older
• Have a high school diploma or GED (The General Educational Development Test) equivalent
• Preference will be given to residents of underserved/disadvantaged counties in Southern Illinois
• Valid Illinois driver’s license
• Illinois resident not currently employed in the infrastructure industry
• Have not completed similar training before.

The application window has closed. We will no longer accepting applications for the program.

• Application
• Statement of Commitment
  A pledge to complete the training and how you will apply yourself to the training program.
• Impact Statement
  A written statement of how the training program will impact your life ie; supporting your family, building a lifelong career, preventing you from being homeless, sustainable income, etc.
• Two letters of recommendation

Application deadline was March 15, 2023.

All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Selected candidates will be notified by March 31, 2023 and will be asked to confirm their participation. If for some reason a selected candidate drops out, another candidate from a waiting list pool will be selected. Participants will be asked to sign an agreement for participation in all activities of the institute and an understanding of program expectations related to behavior, attendance, transportation to and from the institute site, and other program requirements.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the participants will receive sufficient training to work as entry-level technicians. However, some agencies may require additional education or training. Completion of this training does not guarantee employment. The participants will have to seek employment themselves and apply for available jobs.

The 10-week training starts May 19 and will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am-4:30pm. The primary location of the training will be in East St. Louis, IL, however, a few weeks of the training will be Carbondale, IL. A tentative schedule including locations will be provided to attendees on the first day of training. Transportation and shared hotel accommodation will be provided at no extra cost when trainees are in Carbondale, IL.

The selected participants must commit to complete all parts of the training. As an incentive to complete the training, the participants will receive a stipend/per-diem of $300 per week (for approximately 20 hours per week). The first payment of $1,200 will be made only after successfully completing the first 4 weeks of the training; the second payment of $1,200 will made after successfully completing 8 weeks of the training, and the final payment of $600 will be made after successfully completing all 10 weeks of the training. All the participants who successfully complete the training and pass the final exam will also receive a graduation bonus of $500.

SIUE, East St. Louis
Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus
601 J.R. Thompson Blvd
East St. Louis, IL, 62201

• Please contact Tarnisha Green a green@siu.edu for questions about the program
• Please contact Rebecca Dycus at rdycus@siu.edu for assistance with applications

In this module, we delve into the foundations of Artificial Intelligence using Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. Key topics covered will include:

• Large Language Models: An introduction to LLMs and their significance in AI.
• LLM technology foundations: A deep dive into the underlying technologies that empower LLMs, including transformers.
• LLM options: A survey of various LLMs available in the market and their unique capabilities.
• Components of LLMs: An exploration of the building blocks constituting an LLM, such as attention mechanisms and tokenization.
• LLM architectures: A comprehensive overview of different LLM architectures and their strengths and weaknesses.
• The overall workflow of LLMs: A step-by-step guide to training, fine-tuning, and deploying LLMs in real-world applications.
• Multimodal approaches and GPT4 implications: An analysis of how multimodal approaches could shape the future of LLMs, particularly with advancements like GPT4.
• Prompt Engineering Tools: A showcase of tools and techniques available for practical, prompt engineering in LLMs.

We aim to provide a clear and informative guide to understanding the foundations of LLMs, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to harness the power of these advanced AI models. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of LLMs, their architecture, and their applications, students will be well-prepared to design, develop, and optimize AI solutions to address a variety of challenges across various domains.

In this module, we explore various tools and platforms that facilitate prompt engineering and enhance AI capabilities, including:

• OpenAI toolsets: A range of cutting-edge tools such as GPT3, GPT4, and DallE
• Azure OpenAI services: AI solutions and services powered by Microsoft Azure and OpenAI collaboration
• Copilot and Copilot 365: Advanced AI-driven code completion and assistance tools
• AutoGPT: An AI tool for automated prompt engineering and optimization
• Text to Image AI: A collection of powerful tools that convert textual input into visual output and that can be effectively prompted via LLMs, featuring:
  • Midjourney
  • Playground AI
  • Stable Diffusion (Automatic1111)
  • Blockade Labs
  • RunwayML
  • Microsoft Designer

By familiarizing themselves with these prompt engineering tools, students will be well-equipped to harness the power of AI in various applications, from text generation to creative visualizations.

In this crucial module, we delve into the core strategies of prompt engineering, emphasizing the importance of fostering a mindset that enables effective communication with AI systems and accurately predicts their thought processes to yield optimal responses. Key topics covered include: 

• Cultivating a mindset for prompt engineering: Techniques and best practices for developing the mental framework necessary to excel in prompt engineering.
• Engaging with AI and anticipating its thought process: Strategies for interacting with AI models and foreseeing their cognitive patterns to optimize the responses generated through skillful prompt engineering.
• Experimentation and iteration in prompt engineering: Approaches for continuously testing and refining prompts to achieve improved performance, incorporating feedback loops and ongoing adjustments to ensure the highest quality outcomes.
• Ethical considerations in prompt engineering: Guidelines and principles for ensuring that AI models generate responsible, unbiased, and fair responses, addressing potential ethical challenges and promoting transparency in the AI development process.

By mastering the prompting mindset and honing these techniques, students will be well-prepared to engage with AI systems and achieve exceptional results across a wide range of applications. In addition, students will develop a strong foundation in prompt engineering and gain a deeper understanding of the iterative nature of the process and the importance of ethical considerations when working with AI systems.

This module delves into the intricacies of designing and implementing AI applications from inception to completion. Key topics covered include:

• Identifying the starting point for application development: Pinpointing the initial steps and considerations for embarking on an AI project.
• Mapping out the entire workflow: Outlining the comprehensive development process and the stages of bringing an AI application to life.
• Training LLMs and the methods involved: Exploring various techniques and approaches for effectively training Large Language Models.
• The process of Prompting and techniques for Fine-Tuning: Examining the art of crafting prompts and refining AI models to achieve desired outcomes.
• Design thinking and systems thinking for generative AI.

We aim to provide a clear and informative guide, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary for practical application design and implementation across various AI projects.

In this module, we delve deeper into the nuances of prompt engineering, building upon the foundations established in previous modules. We explore various prompting strategies and their applications, including:

• Role Prompting: Techniques for guiding AI responses by assuming specific roles or perspectives.
• Persona-based Prompting: Strategies for generating responses tailored to distinct personas or character profiles.
• Few-shot Prompting: Approaches for leveraging limited examples to guide AI model behavior effectively.
• Combining Techniques: Methods for integrating multiple prompting strategies to achieve more refined and targeted results.
• Chain of Thought Prompting: Tactics for creating a series of interconnected prompts to maintain context and continuity.
• Zero-shot Prompting: Techniques for eliciting desired AI responses without providing explicit examples or guidance.

We aim to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of various prompting strategies, enabling students to effectively harness the power of AI models in generating creative and contextually relevant responses across diverse applications.

In this module, we delve into the vast landscape of AI prompts specifically tailored to address various industry verticals' unique needs and challenges. We provide clear and informative examples for each sector, encompassing:

• Legal AI Prompts
• Startup AI Prompts
• Sales AI Prompts
• Content Writing AI Prompts
• E-Commerce AI Prompts
• Education AI Prompts
• Customer Service AI Prompts
• Human Resources AI Prompts
• Product Management AI Prompts
• Development AI Prompts
• Design AI Prompts
• Marketing AI Prompts
• Finance AI Prompts
• Graphic Design Prompts
• Website Design Prompts
• Artistic Design Prompts
• Game Asset Design Prompts

We aim to empower students with extensive AI prompt examples tailored to each industry's requirements and challenges. This comprehensive understanding will enable students to implement AI solutions across various domains effectively.

In this module, we delve into the various challenges and complexities that may arise in prompt engineering. We provide a comprehensive understanding of these challenges, including:

• Handling ambiguous or unclear prompts
• Mitigating biases in AI-generated responses
• Ensuring response accuracy and relevancy
• Addressing potential ethical concerns
• Dealing with prompt overfitting or underfitting

 By exploring these challenges, we aim to equip students with the knowledge and strategies to effectively navigate potential obstacles and ensure robust AI prompt performance.

 Finally, we delve into the fascinating possibilities that lie ahead in the rapidly evolving field of prompt engineering. We explore various emerging trends and future developments, such as:

 

• Advances in AI models and architectures (AutoGPT)
• Multimodal AI systems and their potential impact
• The role of ethics and regulation in prompt engineering
• Integration of AI prompts in new application areas
• Continuous improvement in prompt engineering techniques

We aim to provide students with a glimpse of the future, inspiring students to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the constantly changing landscape of prompt engineering.

This comprehensive course in prompt engineering with large language models is designed to empower participants with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to excel across various AI applications. Spanning diverse fields such as business, humanities, and social sciences, our curriculum aims to provide a solid foundation in prompt engineering techniques, LLM architectures, and AI-driven solutions.

 

By combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, we aspire to cultivate a deep understanding of the intricacies and nuances of AI systems and their potential impact on various industries. In addition, our goal is to inspire and equip participants with the capabilities to harness the transformative power of AI, enabling them to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and address complex challenges facing the contemporary world.