AI 101 : Function Calling for Non Technical Beginners Part 1

1. Introduction: What is a Function?

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, we often marvel at AI’s ability to understand and generate human-like responses. However, there’s a crucial aspect of AI that often goes unnoticed: its ability to interact with the real world and perform practical tasks.

This is where function calling comes into play, acting as the bridge between AI’s vast knowledge and tangible actions.

Imagine having a brilliant friend who knows everything about the world but can’t turn on a light switch or check the weather outside. That’s essentially what an AI system is without function calling capabilities. It may have extensive knowledge, but it lacks the means to interact with external systems or access real-time information.

In this article series, we’ll explore the concept of function calling in AI, breaking it down into easy-to-understand pieces. This first part will focus on introducing the basic idea of functions using everyday examples and keeping things as non-technical as possible. In future articles, we’ll delve into a more technical breakdown and implementation of function calling in AI systems.

By the end of this series, you’ll understand the complete inner workings of function calling and its involvement with AI.

1.1 The Concept of Functions in Everyday Life

Before diving into the little more technical aspects of function calling, let’s start with familiar, real-world examples. This approach, known as analogical learning, helps bridge the gap between everyday experiences and abstract programming concepts. It’s particularly useful for beginners as it:

1. Provides a concrete foundation with tangible examples.
2. Leverages your existing knowledge of how everyday objects work.
3. Simplifies complex ideas by breaking them down into familiar scenarios.
4. Improves retention by associating new information with existing knowledge.

Let’s think of functions as specific tasks or actions that produce a result in our daily lives. This perspective will help us grasp the core principles of functions before translating them into more technical terms.

• Definition: A function is a specific task or action that produces a result

Real-world examples:

• Coffee machine: Input (coffee beans, water) → Function (brew) → Output (coffee)
• Calculator: Input (numbers) → Function (add, subtract, etc.) → Output (result)

By examining these everyday examples, we can identify the key components of a function: input, process, and output. This foundation will make it easier to understand and work with functions in actual implementation as we progress.

1.2 Breaking Down the Function Concept

Let’s analyze these examples to highlight key aspects of functions:

a) Input:

• Functions often require specific inputs to work properly.
• In our coffee machine example, the inputs are coffee beans and water.
• In programming, these are called parameters or arguments.

b) Process:

• A function is a specific task that produces a certain output based on the given inputs.
• It’s like a specialized tool designed for a particular job.

In the calculator example:

• The addition function combines two numbers.
• The subtraction function finds the difference between two numbers.
• The multiplication function computes the product of two numbers.
• Each function performs its specific task reliably, regardless of which numbers you input.

c) Output:

• Functions typically produce a result or change a state.
• In our calculator example, the output is the computed mathematical result.
• In programming, this is often a return value.

1.3 Characteristics of Functions

As we examine these real-world functions, we can identify some important characteristics:

• Reusability: Like how you can make multiple cups of coffee with the same machine, functions can be used repeatedly with different inputs. You don’t need a new coffee machine each time you want coffee.
• Predictability: Given the same inputs, a function should consistently produce the same outputs. If you put the same coffee and water in your machine, you expect similar coffee each time.

These everyday examples illustrate the key components of a function: input, process, and output. By starting with familiar concepts, we’ve prepared ourselves to explore more complex aspects of functions and their implementation with AI. This gradual approach ensures a solid grasp of the fundamental concepts underlying function calling

2. Understanding AI (Artificial Intelligence)

2.1 What is AI?

• AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is technology that enables computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.

2.2 How AI Works (Simplified)

• AI systems generally work in three basic steps:

1. Input: They receive information. This could be text (like a question you type), images, or other forms of data.
2. Processing: The AI analyzes this input using its training data as a guide.
3. Output: Based on its analysis, the AI produces a response or takes an action. This could be answering a question, making a recommendation, or performing a task

• Training data is information used to teach the AI how to formulate its outputs. Example: To teach AI to identify fruits, you might show it many pictures of apples and oranges, telling it which is which. The AI learns to recognize patterns and features associated with each fruit.

example of AI looking for later flights based on the input(I need to switch to a later flight) given

3. Function Calling in AI: Bridging the Gap

3.1 The Challenge: Connecting AI Agents or Chatbots to Specific Tasks

• AI agents/chatbots are great at understanding and generating information based on their training data

However, they have significant limitations:

• They usually can’t access data outside of what they were trained on (e.g., current internet information)
• They can’t interact directly with components that humans typically use (e.g., email clients, social media platforms)

These limitations mean AI is restricted in:

• Performing certain actions (like sending emails or posting updates)
• Accessing certain types of data (like real-time information or user-specific data)

Examples of tasks that are challenging without function calling:

• Sending a personalized email to all your clients
• Pulling up-to-date information about your leads from LinkedIn to qualify them

3.2 Enter Function Calling: Connecting AI to External Capabilities

• Definition: You can describe Function calling as a configurable tool that gives AI agents/chatbots the ability to perform specific tasks or access external data and services.

Analogy: Think of function calling as connecting a computer to a printer so you can print documents

• The AI agent/chatbot is like a computer
• Functions are like the cables and software connecting the computer to the printer
• External software or data sources are like the printer

How it works:

1. Configuration: Functions connect the AI to specific external capabilities (like connecting the cord from the computer to the printer)
2. Input: The AI is given information about when and how to use these functions (like telling the computer what document to print)
3. Execution: When needed, the AI uses the function to send input to the external service (like sending information about what the user wants to print to the printer)
4. Output: Two types of output occur: a. The external service performs the task (like the printer producing the printed document) b. The external service sends a confirmation to the AI (like the printer telling the computer that files have been successfully printed) The AI then relays this information back to the user

Example: AI using a weather data function

• AI (computer) needs weather information
• Weather data function (cable) connects AI to a online weather service (printer)
• AI sends location and date through the function (like sending details of what to print)
• Weather service processes request and generates data (like printer creating the document)
• Weather service sends data and confirms completion (like printer producing document and confirming print job)
• AI processes this data and confirmation to provide a response to the user (like computer informing user that document is printed and ready)

4. Why Function Calling Capability Matters

4.1 Overcoming AI Limitations

Expands AI capabilities beyond its training data and provide more accurate and up-to-date responses

• Example: An AI trained on 2022 data can’t access current stock prices or news articles

Allows AI to handle tasks requiring real-time or dynamic information

• Example: Booking a restaurant reservation based on current availability

4.2 Enhancing User Experience

Allows for personalized interactions

• Example: Accessing a user’s calendar to suggest meeting times that don’t conflict with existing appointments

4.3 Bridging AI and Real-World Actions

Enables AI to perform practical tasks it couldn’t do alone

• Example: Sending an email or text message on behalf of the user

Conclusion: Your Journey into Function Calling Begins Here

We’ve just scratched the surface of function calling in AI, introducing the concept through everyday examples. This foundational understanding sets the stage for more advanced explorations in the upcoming parts of this series.

To dive deeper into the world of function calling:

1. Subscribe to catch future parts of this series, where we’ll break down function calling from top to bottom and at a more technical level.
2. For a more technical showcase, check out my YouTube video where I create an AI Assistant with Retrieval, Function Calling and Code Interpreter Capabilities : Function Calling Explained (23:45 to 32:17 for the most relevant sections).
3. Read my detailed article on implementing function calling with the OpenAI Assistant API: Create an AI Chatbot: Function Calling with OpenAI Assistant.
4. Watch my live stream on building no-code AI web assistants to see function calling in action without writing any code: Building No-Code AI Web Assistants.