# generative-ai-for-beginners | Microsoft | Knowledge Base | Instagit 21 Lessons, Get Started Building with Generative AI GitHub Stars: 107k Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners --- ## Articles ### [How to Monitor and Achieve Observability for AI Applications](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-monitor-and-achieve-observability-for-ai-applications) Achieve AI application observability by instrumenting Generative AI services with OpenTelemetry. Capture traces, metrics, and logs then export to Azure Monitor for alerting and dashboards. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Advanced Prompt Engineering Techniques for Better Generative AI Results](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-advanced-prompt-engineering-techniques-for-better-results) Master advanced prompt engineering techniques like system messages and few-shot examples to unlock better generative AI results and deterministic LLM outputs. - Tags: tutorial - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Handle Rate Limiting and Implement Retries for API Calls in Python](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-handle-rate-limiting-and-implement-retries-for-api-calls) Learn to handle rate limiting and implement retries for API calls in Python using a safe request wrapper and Tenacity decorators. Optimize your generative AI applications. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Optimize Costs When Using Different LLM Providers: A Complete Guide](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-can-i-optimize-costs-when-using-different-llm-providers) Optimize LLM provider costs by choosing cheaper models, setting token budgets, caching responses, and using RAG to reduce prompt size. Learn cost-saving strategies now. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Deployment Strategies for Generative AI Applications: 6 Production-Ready Patterns](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-common-deployment-strategies-for-generative-ai-applications) Discover 6 production-ready deployment strategies for generative AI applications. Explore managed services, serverless, RAG, and more to optimize cost and latency. - Tags: architecture - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Effective Strategies for Testing AI Applications: A Comprehensive Guide](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-effective-strategies-for-testing-ai-applications) Discover effective strategies for testing AI applications. Learn LLM-specific techniques like adversarial testing and prompt robustness checks to ensure reliability and security. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Integrate Mistral and Meta Llama Model Families with GitHub Models](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-integrate-mistral-and-meta-s-llama-model-families) Integrate Mistral and Meta Llama models easily using an OpenAI-compatible client and GitHub token. Learn the simple steps in our beginner's guide. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Use Open-Source LLMs from Hugging Face in Your Applications](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-use-open-source-llms-from-hugging-face-in-my-applications) Integrate open-source LLMs from Hugging Face into your applications using the transformers library. Learn how to configure API keys and swap models easily to enhance your projects. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Integrate Image Generation Capabilities Using DALL-E API in Python](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-integrate-image-generation-capabilities-using-dall-e-api) Integrate DALL-E image generation in Python using the Azure OpenAI SDK. Generate images from text prompts and display them with this quick guide. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Select the Right LLM for Your Project: 8 Essential Criteria from the Microsoft Curriculum](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-criteria-should-i-use-to-select-the-right-llm-for-my-project) Discover 8 essential criteria from Microsoft for selecting the ideal LLM for your project. Evaluate complexity, cost, performance, safety, and more. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Design User Experience for Generative AI Applications: A 3-Stage Framework](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-design-user-experience-ux-for-generative-ai-applications) Learn to design UX for generative AI applications with our 3-stage framework. Master research, interaction design, and human-in-the-loop iteration for creative, controlled, and trustworthy AI experiences. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Low-Code AI Application Development: Building Intelligent Solutions with Microsoft Power Platform](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-the-benefits-and-approaches-for-low-code-ai-application-development) Accelerate AI app development with Microsoft Power Platform. Build intelligent solutions fast using low-code tools, pre-built models, and natural language. Discover the benefits today. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Switch Between Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API, and GitHub Copilot Models](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-switch-between-azure-openai-openai-api-and-github-copilot-models) Easily switch between Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API, and GitHub Copilot models. Learn how to update imports, environment variables, and endpoints with this quick guide. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Optimize Token Usage and Manage Context Window Limits in LLMs](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-optimize-token-usage-and-manage-context-window-limits-in-llms) Master LLM token usage & context window limits. Learn to count tokens, budget responses, and chunk documents to prevent input truncation and output degradation. Optimize your LLM performance today. - Tags: performance - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Security Considerations for Generative AI Applications: A Microsoft Curriculum Guide](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-the-key-security-considerations-for-generative-ai-applications) Learn essential security considerations for generative AI applications. Discover how to prevent prompt injection, data poisoning, secure API keys, and more with this Microsoft curriculum guide. - Tags: tutorial - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [When Should You Use Small Language Models (SLMs) Instead of LLMs?](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/when-should-i-use-small-language-models-slms-instead-of-llms) Discover when to use Small Language Models SLMs over LLMs. Benefit from lower latency, reduced costs, and edge device capabilities for domain-specific tasks. Learn more! - Tags: deep-dive - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Fine-Tuning LLMs vs Prompt Engineering: Key Differences and When to Use Each](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-the-differences-between-fine-tuning-llms-and-prompt-engineering) Understand the core differences between fine-tuning LLMs and prompt engineering. Learn when to use each technique to customize your generative AI models for optimal performance. - Tags: tutorial - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Use Embeddings for Building Efficient Search Applications](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-use-embeddings-for-building-efficient-search-applications) Learn how to build efficient search applications using embeddings. Convert text to vectors, store them in an index, and find relevant results with cosine similarity. - Tags: tutorial - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Compare AI Agent Frameworks: LangChain vs AutoGen](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-compare-ai-agent-frameworks-like-langchain-and-autogen) Compare AI agent frameworks LangChain and AutoGen. Discover LangChain's production-ready pipelines and AutoGen's multi-agent collaboration to choose the best fit for your needs. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [What Is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and How to Implement It with Vector Databases](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-is-retrieval-augmented-generation-rag-and-how-to-implement-it-with-vector-databases) Discover Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and learn to implement it with vector databases. Ground LLM responses in current, specific knowledge for better accuracy. Get started today. - Tags: tutorial - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Implement Function Calling with Azure OpenAI and External Tools: A Complete Guide](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-implement-function-calling-with-azure-openai-and-external-tools) Learn to implement function calling with Azure OpenAI. Connect models to external tools using JSON schemas for dynamic, natural language responses. Get started today! - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [Managing Environment Variables in Python for AI Applications: Best Practices from Microsoft's Generative AI Course](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/what-are-best-practices-for-managing-environment-variables-in-python-for-ai-applications) Master Python environment variables for AI apps. Learn best practices for securely storing API keys and configurations across environments with this guide. - Tags: best-practices - Published: 2026-02-26 ### [How to Configure Azure OpenAI Client with API Version, Endpoint, and Deployment](/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners/how-to-configure-azure-openai-client-with-specific-api-version-endpoint-and-deployment) Learn to configure your Azure OpenAI client using the create_azure_openai_client utility function or AzureOpenAI directly. Set your api_version, endpoint, and deployment for seamless integration. - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-02-26