8 Popular Tools for RAG Applications You Need to Know

By 2024-11-19

Introduction

In the evolving AI landscape, integrating external knowledge into models beyond their initial training data has revolutionized the field. This breakthrough, powered by Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), enables AI systems to dynamically retrieve and utilize external information. To streamline this process, numerous tools have emerged, simplifying the integration and augmentation required for building efficient, scalable RAG applications. This article delves into some of the most popular tools for RAG applications and their transformative impact on the future of AI.

Also Read: Discover GPT 4o API for Vision Text and Image Insights

8 Popular Tools for RAG Application


Table of Contents

What is RAG and How Does it Work?

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) is an advanced AI technique that blends retrieval-based systems with generative models. In response to a query, the RAG model retrieves relevant information from external knowledge sources such as databases, documents, or content repositories. This information is then used to enrich the input to the generative model, enabling it to produce more accurate and contextually relevant responses.  

For instance, consider a scenario where you want to find new clothes that match your style based on previous purchases:  

  • Retrieving Past Purchases:  The system reviews your shopping history, retrieving details such as the type, brand, color, pattern, and size of items you’ve previously bought.  

  • Analyzing Your Style:  It analyzes this data to identify your fashion preferences and style trends.  

  • Generating Tailored Suggestions: Using this understanding, the system scans the current collection to suggest items that align with your preferences. These recommendations are personalized and up-to-date, ensuring they match your unique style.  

Specialized tools simplify the development of RAG applications tailored to specific use cases, such as document retrieval or extracting information from videos. Among the most widely used tools for RAG applications are:

  1. NotebookLM (by Google)
  2. ChatPdf
  3. NoteGPT.io
  4. Open Notebook LM (open source)
  5. AskYourPDF
  6. PDF.ai
  7. ChatDoc
  8. Chatize

Let’s begin by comparing these tools and outlining the tasks each one is designed to perform in the table below.

Tools for RAG Applications Models Summarization Support Files Video content Generate Podcast
NotebookLM Gemini 1.5 Pro Yes PDF, TXT, Markdown, Audio,Webpage YouTube video links Yes
ChatPDF Not Mentioned Yes PDF No No
NoteGPT.io. Not Mentioned Yes PDF, PPT, DOCX, Audio, Video, Image,Webpage Yes Yes
Open NotebookLM Llama 3.1 405B Yes PDF YouTube video links Yes
AskYourPDF GPT-4o mini (free)
GPT-4 (Paid)
Claude 3 sonnet (Paid)
Claude-3 opus (Paid)
Mistral (Paid)		 Yes PDF, DOC, DOCX No No
PDF.ai GPT-3.5-turbo (Free)
GPT-4 (Paid)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Paid)		 Yes PDF No No
ChatDoc GPT-4o (Paid) Yes PDF, DOC, DOCX, Markdown, WEBPAGE, EPUB, OCRTXT No No
Chatize GPT 3.5
GPT-4		 Yes PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, webpage, HTML, MOBI No No

Whether you are developing text-based RAG systems or vision-based applications, these tools provide the essential foundation for building efficient, high-performance AI solutions.  

Let’s now dive into the three most popular tools for RAG applications.  

1. NotebookLM

NotebookLM is a versatile RAG tool powered by Google's LLM, Gemini 1.5 Pro. It enables the model to generate content based on the provided information, minimizing the chances of hallucinations and irrelevant responses. The input can be sourced from various file types, such as PDFs, Google Docs, and YouTube videos. NotebookLM can create summaries, answer questions, and generate audio content, making it ideal for crafting engaging conversations and personalized podcasts.

STEP 1: Sign In

To access NotebookLM, go to the NotebookLM website. In the center of the screen, click on Try NotebookLM. Sign in with your email address, then click Create to start a new notebook.

NotebookLM1


STEP 2: Add Sources

Add the relevant resources you want the tool to work with. There are three options for adding resources:

  • Google Drive: Upload Google Slides and Docs.
  • Link: Include website URLs or YouTube video links.
  • Paste Text: Copy and paste text directly as your resource.

Keep in mind that the model can interact with up to 50 resources within a single notebook.

NotebookLM2


For example: To get a summary of the novel Moby-Dick, you can either upload the PDF of the book or paste the URL link to the e-book.

I will use the URL link of the e-book to generate the summary.

After uploading, the model will quickly generate a brief summary.

NotebookLM3


STEP 3: Ask Your Query

You can type your questions at the bottom of the screen to receive answers based on the provided information. To interact with multiple sources, simply click the + icon on the screen to add more resources.

NotebookLM 4

STEP 4: Generate Podcast

To create a podcast of the summary, click on the Generate button in the top right corner.

NotebookLM 5


That’s it! Now, you can listen to the summary anytime.

You’ve seen how easy it is to extract information from any file using NotebookLM in just a few simple steps. To learn more about NotebookLM, check out this blog, How to Use NotebookLM.

Open NotebookLM, is another tool for RAG applications, built using open-source models and hosted on HuggingFace. This tool also enables you to perform various tasks, such as generating summaries and creating podcasts.


2. ChatPDF

ChatPDF is an AI-driven tool that enables users to interact with PDF documents in a conversational manner. You can upload a PDF file and ask questions to extract specific information without having to go through the entire document.

Now, let’s explore how ChatPDF works.

STEP 1: Sign Up

Visit ChatPDF and log in with your Gmail account to save your chat history..

STEP 2: Upload a PDF File

Click on Drop PDF in the center of the screen. You’ll have two options: either browse your computer for a file or paste a URL link. Choose the one that suits you to upload the relevant document.

For example, I’ve uploaded the paper ‘Attention is All You Need‘. You can download this research paper and upload it using the "Browse My Computer" option.

Once uploaded, the document will appear on the left side of the screen. The chat option will be available on the right side, where you can ask your questions.

chatpdf 1


This tool is commonly used by students, researchers, and professionals who need to quickly and efficiently process large volumes of information.

Other similar RAG tools include Ask Your PDF, PDF.ai, ChatDoc, and Chatize. These tools work by uploading relevant PDFs or documents and answering queries based on the provided content, saving professionals valuable time and boosting productivity.


3. NoteGPT.io

NoteGPT.io is a versatile AI-powered tool designed to improve learning with features like summarization, note-taking, document interaction, and more.

Let’s take a look at how NoteGPT.io works:

STEP1: Sign Up

Head to https://notegpt.io/ and sign up using your Gmail account.

STEP 2: Upload Files

Select Create from the left side of the screen. You will have three options to choose from:

  • URL: Paste a URL link from YouTube, Google Podcasts, webpages, articles, online PDFs, Word documents, PPTs, images, audio, or video files.
  • Upload: Choose a file from your desktop to upload.
  • Text: Copy and paste the text directly.
NoteGPT 1


Select the appropriate option, then click on 'Summarize Now'.

The summary of the entire video will appear on the right side of the screen under 'AI Notes'.

NoteGPT 2


STEP 3: Ask Query

You can ask the questions regarding the file in AI chat section.

NoteGPT 3


This allows you to easily interact with the video content using NoteGPT.io.

All the files you have uploaded or linked will be available in the Notes section.

NoteGPT 4


Conclusion

RAG is transforming how models access and leverage external knowledge to deliver contextually accurate responses. As RAG applications grow in popularity, a range of tools has emerged to simplify their development for various use cases. Tools like Google’s NotebookLM, ChatPDF, and NoteGPT.io enable users to extract relevant information from large datasets and documents. Whether it's summarizing content, interacting with files, or generating podcasts, these RAG tools streamline the process of building efficient, high-performance AI models. As the RAG landscape continues to evolve, we can expect even more tools to emerge, supporting increasingly diverse and complex use cases across industries. Let’s stay tuned!