Blog

Jul 26, 2023

Auto

Published on By When comparing ChatGPT with Autonomous AI agents such as Auto-GPT and GPT-Engineer, a significant difference emerges in the decision-making process. While ChatGPT requires active human

Published

on

By

When comparing ChatGPT with Autonomous AI agents such as Auto-GPT and GPT-Engineer, a significant difference emerges in the decision-making process. While ChatGPT requires active human involvement to drive the conversation, providing guidance based on user prompts, the planning process is predominantly dependent on human intervention.

Generative AI models like transformers are the State-of-the-Art core technology, driving these autonomous AI agents. These transformers are trained on large datasets, allowing them to simulate complex reasoning and decision-making capabilities.

Many of these autonomous AI agents stem from open-source initiatives led by innovative individuals transforming conventional workflows. Rather than just offering suggestions, agents such as Auto-GPT can independently handle tasks, from online shopping to constructing basic apps. OpenAI's Code Interpreter aims to upgrade ChatGPT from just suggesting ideas to actively solving problems with those ideas.

Both Auto-GPT and GPT-Engineer are equipped with the power of GPT 3.5 and GPT-4. It grasps code logic, combines multiple files, and accelerates the development process.

The crux of Auto-GPT's functionality lies in its AI agents. These agents are programmed to execute specific tasks, from mundane ones like scheduling to more complex tasks that require strategic decision-making. However, these AI agents operate within the boundaries set by users. By controlling their access via APIs, users can determine the depth and scope of actions the AI can perform.

For instance, if tasked with creating a chat web app integrated with ChatGPT, Auto-GPT autonomously breaks down the goal into actionable steps, like creating an HTML front-end or scripting a Python back-end. While the application autonomously produces these prompts, users can still monitor and modify them. As shown by the creator of AutoGPT @SigGravitas, it is able to build and execute a test program based on Python.

Massive Update for Auto-GPT: Code Execution! 🤖💻

Auto-GPT is now able to write it's own code using #gpt4 and execute python scripts!

This allows it to recursively debug, develop and self-improve… 🤯 👇 pic.twitter.com/GEkMb1LyxV

— Significant Gravitas (@SigGravitas) April 1, 2023

While the below diagram describes a more general architecture of an Autonomous AI agent, it offers valuable insight into the processes behind the scenes.

Autonomous AI Agent Architecture

The process is initiated by verifying the OpenAI API Key and initializing various parameters, including short-term memory and database contents. Once the key data is passed to the Agent, the model interacts with the GPT3.5/GPT4 to retrieve a response. This response is then transformed into a JSON format, which the Agent interprets to execute a variety of functions, like conducting online searches, reading or writing files, or even running code. Auto-GPT employs a pre-trained model to store these responses in a database, and future interactions use this stored information for reference. The loop continues until the task is deemed complete.

Setting up cutting-edge tools like GPT-Engineer and Auto-GPT can streamline your development process. Below is a structured guide to help you install and configure both tools.

Setting up Auto-GPT can appear complex, but with the right steps, it becomes straightforward. This guide covers the procedure to set up Auto-GPT and offers insights into its diverse scenarios.

Open AI API Key Generation

Memory Backend Options: A memory backend serves as a storage mechanism for AutoGPT to access essential data for its operations. AutoGPT employs both short-term and long-term storage capabilities. Pinecone, Milvus, Redis, and others are some options that are available.

The Auto-GPT offers a rich set of command-line arguments to customize its behavior:

AutoGPT in CLI

Once configurations are complete, initiate Auto-GPT using:

For those looking to containerize Auto-GPT, Docker provides a streamlined approach. However, be mindful that Docker's initial setup can be slightly intricate. Refer to Docker's installation guide for assistance.

Proceed by following the steps below to modify the OpenAI API key. Make sure Docker is running in the background. Now go to the main directory of AutoGPT and follow the below steps on your terminal

With docker-compose:

To mitigate risks, operate Auto-GPT within a virtual container, like Docker. This ensures that any potentially harmful content stays confined within the virtual space, keeping your external files and system untouched. Alternatively, Windows Sandbox is an option, though it resets after each session, failing to retain its state.

For security, always execute Auto-GPT in a virtual environment, ensuring your system remains insulated from unexpected outputs.

Given all this, there is still a chance that you will not be able to get your desired results. Auto-GPT Users reported recurring issues when trying to write to a file, often encountering failed attempts due to problematic file names. Here is one such error: Auto-GPT (release 0.2.2) doesn't append the text after error "write_to_file returned: Error: File has already been updated

Various solutions to address this have been discussed on the associated GitHub thread for reference.

GPT-Engineer Workflow:

The process of setting up GPT-Engineer has been condensed into an easy-to-follow guide. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Preparing the Environment: Before diving in, ensure you have your project directory ready. Open a terminal and run the below command

2. Clone the Repository: git clone https://github.com/AntonOsika/gpt-engineer.git .

3. Navigate & Install Dependencies: Once cloned, switch to the directory cd gpt-engineer and install all necessary dependencies make install

4. Activate Virtual Environment: Depending on your operating system, activate the created virtual environment.

5. Configuration – API Key Setup: To interact with OpenAI, you'll need an API key. If you don't have one yet, sign up on the OpenAI platform, then:

6. Project Initialization & Code Generation: GPT-Engineer's magic starts with the main_prompt file found in the projects folder.

Here, replace ‘website' with your chosen project name.

Your generated code will reside in the workspace directory within the project folder.

7. Post-Generation: While GPT-Engineer is powerful, it might not always be perfect. Inspect the generated code, make any manual changes if needed, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Prompt:

Setting Up and Running GPT-Engineer

Much like Auto-GPT, GPT-Engineer can sometimes encounter errors even after a complete setup. However, on my third attempt, I successfully accessed the following streamlit webpage. Ensure you review any errors on the official GPT-Engineer repository's issue page.

Streamlit App generated using GPT-Engineer

A single task executed by Auto-GPT might involve numerous steps. Importantly, each of these steps could be billed individually, increasing the costs. Auto-GPT can become trapped in repetitive loops, failing to deliver promised outcomes. Such occurrences compromise its reliability and undermine the investment.

Imagine wanting to create a short essay with Auto-GPT. The essay's ideal length is 8K tokens, but during the creation process, the model delves into multiple intermediary steps to finalize the content. If you're using GPT-4 with 8k context length then for the input, you would be billed $0.03. And for the output, the cost would be $0.06. Now, let's say the model runs into an unforeseen loop, redoing certain parts multiple times. Not only does the process become longer, but each repetition also adds to the cost.

To safeguard against this:

Set usage limits at OpenAI Billing & Limits:

Auto-GPT's capabilities, as depicted in its source code, come with certain boundaries. Its problem-solving strategies are governed by its intrinsic functions and the accessibility provided by GPT-4's API. For in-depth discussions and possible workarounds, consider visiting: Auto-GPT Discussion.

The dynamic between AI and labor markets is ever-evolving and is documented extensively in this research paper. A key takeaway is that while technological progress often benefits skilled workers, it poses risks to those engaged in routine tasks. As a matter of fact, technological advancements might displace certain tasks but simultaneously pave the way for diverse, labor-intensive tasks.

An estimated 80% of American workers might find that LLMs (Language Learning Models) influence around 10% of their day-to-day tasks. This statistic underlines the merging of AI and human roles.

AI's dual-faceted role in the workforce:

Clearly, tools such as ChatGPT, Auto-GPT, and GPT-Engineer stand at the forefront of reshaping the interaction between technology and its users. With roots in open-source movements, these AI agents manifest the possibilities of machine autonomy, streamlining tasks from scheduling to software development.

As we propel into a future where AI integrates deeper into our daily routines, a balance between embracing AI's capabilities and safeguarding human roles becomes pivotal. On the broader spectrum, the AI-labor market dynamic paints a dual image of growth opportunities and challenges, demanding a conscious integration of tech ethics and transparency.

TinyML: Applications, Limitations, and It’s Use in IoT & Edge Devices

I have spent the past five years immersing myself in the fascinating world of Machine Learning and Deep Learning. My passion and expertise have led me to contribute to over 50 diverse software engineering projects, with a particular focus on AI/ML. My ongoing curiosity has also drawn me toward Natural Language Processing, a field I am eager to explore further.

Beyond ChatGPT; AI Agent: A New World of Workers

GPT-3 : Few Shot Learning for Language Model?

People Fear AI, But Apple’s ChatGPT Could Make AI Everybody’s Friend

Exploring OpenAI’s ChatGPT Code Interpreter: A Deep Dive into its Capabilities

Big Tech and Generative AI: Will Big Tech Control Generative AI?

OpenAI Faces a Nearly 20% Traffic Drop in 3 Months