The Jigsaw methodology: A structured approach to solve AI problems for domain experts assisted by LLMs

I have been developing the Jigsaw approach ???to solve AI problems assisted by LLMs especially for non developers or developers who are not familiar with AI. We ( Anjali Jain and I) have been also developing this approach in our courses at University of Oxford .?

A recent paper(The Effects of Generative AI on High Skilled Work: Evidence from Three Field Experiments with Software Developers ) concludes that the usage of a generative AI code suggestion tools increase? software developer productivity by 26.08% (SE: 10.3%).??

However, we address a related problem

We want to upskill non-developers(domain experts) to AI and also non AI(machine learning and deep learning) developers to AI with the assistance of LLMs.

In this post, I explain the overall set of steps we undertake.?

Some background notes

Firstly, here? are some notes, based on my experience

1. ?AI means machine learning and deep learning but we also include generative AI(RAG and GRAPHRAG)
2. This is an evolving approach - I have learnt a lot both from my students in Oxford and also Erdos Research
3. The ‘jigsaw approach’ is based on what ‘complete’ looks like. Just like you see on the box of a jigsaw puzzle. There are essentially four things to aspire to: Model evaluation metrics, Acceptance tests, code templates and collaboration metrics(if working in a group for the design phase). The collaboration metrics are based on using lean canvas(which I shall elaborate in a subsequent post)?
4. We continue to work with Magnus (a firefighter from Iceland) and Dr Chougule - an NHS doctor - from our first Oxford course - who also inspired me to develop these ideas further.???
5. Here, Low code means assisted by LLM. You still need to understand how code works.??
6. We consider a single workflow for generative and non generative AI. Broadly, the RAG framework helps to load a series of documents, from these you can create either an agent(traditional RAG) or a data structure or a graph. From the data structure, we can use traditional (non generative) algorithms like regression and classification. Thus, this single flow unites the generative and non generative modes.?
7. This is, by definition, an iterative process. We store each iteration and build in the mindset of improving models. Development proceeds in cycles.?
8. We deploy using GPT, streamlit or just a notebook. We do not cover MLOps in the low code approach
9. The process is collaborative - either as pair programming or in groups for a hackathon - which we have tried before successfully
10. In the future, multimodal AI will have a bigger role in the development of AI. I was always fascinated by viperGPT when I first saw it. Multimodal AI is the future of development and we have not seen its full impact yet
11. Similarly, agentic workflows will be a key part of developing future applications.?
12. The model evaluation metric is the north star. The metric ties to all the steps of the jigsaw methodology
13. We start with a business metric and tie the business metric to an AI metric (classification, regression, RAG evaluation or GRAPHRAG evaluation metric)
14. We see the methodology integrated with Partners, Tools (like cursor), clients and institutions
15. LLMs are (largely) concerned with unstructured data. In fact, we can see the RAG process as moving from unstructured data to structured data and insights.
16. By considering test driven development ?(ATDD, BDD and TDD ) upfront, we bring domain experts into the picture earlier. But by using iterations, we do not get bogged down by the challenges of? test driven development.? (Why hasn't TDD taken over the world )? ? ?
17. Similarly, we emphasise the creation of synthetic data upfront.? It is relatively easy to create synthetic data using LLMs
18. One of the unique challenges in learning AI is the known unknowns problem . I.e. given a problem - you need to know multiple ways to solve it. We take this intro consideration

The process

Note that the process is iterative and the model evaluation metric is the north star ie everything ties to the model evaluation metric? ?

For a scenario (typically working in pairs)

Design phase??

Requirement analysis based on metrics

User stories based on metrics

Test criteria based on metrics

?Development phase??

Business problem

Business Metrics

ML/DL metrics

Example workflow

Generate synthetic data

Code based on template

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Step-by-Step Approach

1. Define the Problem and Objectives

2. Determine Model Evaluation Metrics

3. Establish Test Criteria?

4. Data Collection and Preprocessing (collect data or create synthetic data) including unstructured data for RAG

5. Baseline Model Development

6. Iterative Improvement of the Model

????Feature Selection and Engineering

????Model Selection and Tuning?

???Model Ensembling

7. Model Evaluation and Validation against the AI metric, Business metric and the tests

8.Iterate?

9 Deployment and Monitoring

10 Consider other user stories?

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I will share more about collaborative metrics(design phase) in a subsequent post.?