Hi Reader, Last week, I encouraged you to experiment with different LLMs, since there’s no one model that is superior across all use cases. Specifically, I suggested you try using Chatbot Arena, which allows you to chat with multiple models at once. It’s completely free, but has two significant disadvantages:
Today, I want to offer you a better method for experimenting with LLMs, and it’s the method I personally use. But first, we need to talk about LLM pricing… 🏷 What’s the cheapest way to access LLMs?If you’re familiar with ChatGPT, you probably know that it offers a limited Free plan and a $20/month Plus plan. But did you know that there’s a more flexible, affordable way to access the paid features of ChatGPT? If you access LLMs via API, you actually pay per “token”, which is roughly equivalent to a word. The LLM I use the most, GPT-4o mini, costs only $0.15 per million “input tokens” (what you send to it) and $0.60 per million “output tokens” (what it sends back). That means most of my conversations cost fractions of a cent! And when I want to use a more powerful model (like Claude 3.5 Sonnet), I pay perhaps $0.10 for a conversation. In summary, accessing LLMs via API means that you can use whichever models you need, and only pay for the tokens you use. Win-win! 🌐 How to access LLMs via APIIf you like the idea of accessing LLMs in a flexible, affordable way, there’s only two things you need to get started:
An “API key” is just a unique identifier that allows you to access a web service. For example, my API key from OpenAI allows me to use their models, and they bill me for the usage. Once you have an API key, you need an interface for chatting with the LLM. My preferred interface is TypingMind: All you have to do is give TypingMind your API key, and it will communicate with the LLM on your behalf! I love TypingMind because it’s so easy to switch between different LLMs while still tracking your conversation history in one place. It’s also got a ton of power user features: AI agents, plugins, voice mode, document upload, cloud sync, etc. ⏩ Action itemsThis week, I want you to try using an LLM via API. Here are the steps:
Next time, I'll give you tips for how to get the best results from LLMs!
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Hi Reader, Most of us access Large Language Models (LLMs) through a web interface, like ChatGPT or Claude. It’s highly convenient, though there are two potential drawbacks: Cost: Some amount of usage is free, but heavy usage (or access to premium models) costs money. Privacy: Depending on the service, your chats may be used to train future models. (Or at the very least, your chats may be accessed if ordered by a court.) One solution is to run an LLM locally, which has gotten much easier with...
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Hi Reader, In this week’s tip, I’ll be breaking down some highly practical advice for taking full advantage of the capabilities of today’s AI models. Check it out below! 👇 Today’s tip is based on Ethan Mollick’s excellent article, Using AI Right Now: A Quick Guide. I recommend reading the whole thing if you have time, but if not, I’ve pulled out some important quotes from the article and added my own commentary: For most people who want to use AI seriously, you should pick one of three...