MSA 8700: Building Generative AI Business Solutions
This hands-on course focusses on developing generative AI applications. It covers large language models, prompt engineering, and fine-tuning frameworks. Students will explore retrieval-augmented generation, document processing, and vector databases. The course also delves into the architecture and deployment of agentic AI applications, image generation, and safeguarding AI systems. Through class activities, students will apply these concepts to real-world scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of generative AI’s business applications.
Schedule
| Session | Monday | Wednesday | Topic | In Class | Project Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026-01-12 | 2026-01-14 | AI Foundations | ACT01 | |
| 2 | 2026-01-26 | 2026-01-21 | Generative AI & LLMs | ACT02 | |
| 3 | 2026-02-02 | 2026-01-28 | RAG Implementation | ACT03 | M01 Project Definition |
| 4 | 2026-02-09 | 2026-02-04 | Solution Deployment | ACT04 | |
| 5 | 2026-02-16 | 2026-02-11 | Agent Systems | ACT05 | M02 Data Pipeline, CI/CD setup |
| 6 | 2026-02-23 | 2026-02-18 | Agentic Frameworks | ACT06 | |
| 7 | 2026-03-02 | 2026-02-25 | RAG Evaluation | ACT07 | |
| 8 | 2026-03-09 | 2026-03-04 | NLP & Text Processing | ACT08 | M03 Agentic Prototype |
| 9 | 2026-03-23 | 2026-03-11 | Knowledge Graphs | ACT09 | |
| 10 | 2026-03-30 | 2026-03-25 | LLMs for Query Languages | ACT10 | |
| 11 | 2026-04-06 | 2026-04-01 | Data Science on Agentic System | ACT11 | |
| 12 | 2026-04-13 | 2026-04-08 | Multi modal LLMs | ACT12 | M04 Evaluation Framework Base-line |
| 13 | 2026-04-20 | 2026-04-15 | Responsible AI | ACT13 | |
| 14 | 2026-04-27 | 2026-04-22 | Last day of class: Presentations | M05 Iterative Improvement | |
| 2026-05-04 | 2026-04-29 | -- no class -- | M06 Final Deliverables |
Documents
Topics
- Agent Systems
- Agentic Frameworks
- AI Foundations
- Data Science on Agentic System
- Generative AI & LLMs
- Knowledge Graphs
- Last day of class: Presentations
- LLMs for Query Languages
- Multi-modal LLMs
- NLP & Text Processing
- RAG Evaluation
- RAG Implementation
- Responsible AI
- Solution Deployment
Project
This semester-long project centers on developing a Document-Driven Agentic Intelligence System (DAIS) utilizing a business-relevant document corpus and a multi-agent architecture. Students will choose from three variations - knowledge graph construction, research advising, or scientific/business discovery - and design the system around a defined user persona. The project involves building a data pipeline for document ingestion and processing, coupled with interactive and batch query interfaces for human and automated evaluation. Ultimately, students will deliver a fully functional, demonstrably effective DAIS, assessed through a student-constructed test set and culminating in a technical report, demo video, and in-class presentation.
Project Milestones
| Milestone | Monday due | Wednesday due |
|---|---|---|
| M01 Project Definition | Feb 1, 2026 | Jan 27, 2026 |
| M02 Data Pipeline, CI/CD setup | Feb 22, 2026 | Feb 17, 2026 |
| M03 Agentic Prototype | Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 3, 2026 |
| M04 Evaluation Framework Base-line | Apr 12, 2026 | Apr 7, 2026 |
| M05 Iterative Improvement | Apr 26, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 |
| M06 Final Deliverables | May 3, 2026 | Apr 28, 2026 |