Digital Method of the Month: What LLM Can and Cannot Do
Hybrid
Have you seen a presentation on digital research methods and wondered if they are applicable to your work? Are you interested in learning new digital skills but unsure where to start?
This is the right place for you!
The digital method of the month meeting is a safe space to freely discuss the practicalities of learning and implementing a new digital skill in your research.
Each month we select a method, and we have an honest and practical discussion on what it takes to learn and master it. How much time will it take to get the basics? What are the software options available? What are the most common pitfalls? Where can you find more info on the subject? etc...
The method of this month is Large Language Models (LLMs). LLMs are a type of artificial intelligence trained on vast amounts of text data to generate human-like text and understand natural language. They can summarise articles, draft emails, or assist in complex analyses. However, they have limitations: LLMs can sometimes provide confident-sounding but incorrect responses, struggle with domain-specific expertise, and depend heavily on the quality of their training data. During the meeting, we will introduce the concept of LLMs, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and explore how they can be effectively integrated into research workflows. Join us to learn more!
This is a beginner-level event, and no previous knowledge of the method is required.
This conversation will be led by Martin Disley and Chris Oldnall.
If you’re new to this training event format, or to CDCS training events in general, read more on what to expect from CDCS training. Here you will also find details of our cancellation and no-show policy, which applies to this event.
This event is hybrid and you can book a space to join either online or in person.
Learning Outcomes:
- To engage in discussions about what Large Language Model can and cannot be used for.
- To have access to a source of information and online materials on the use of Large Language Models.
If you're interested in other training on data analysis, statistics, and machine learning, have a look at the following:
Return to the Training Homepage to see other available events.
Room 4.35, Edinburgh Futures Institute
This room is on Level 4, in the North East side of the building.
When you enter via the level 2 East entrance on Middle Meadow Walk, the room will be on the 4th floor straight ahead.
When you enter via the level 2 North entrance on Lauriston Place underneath the clock tower, the room will be on the 4th floor to your left.
When you enter via the level 0 South entrance on Porters Walk (opposite Tribe Yoga), the room will be on the 4th floor to your right.
