ai-consciousness

Grounding, RAG and Tools: A Field Guide to AI That Doesn't Lie

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One Move, Three Names

The field has a confusing vocabulary for a simple idea. Retrieval-augmented generation, tool use, function calling, the Model Context Protocol—the names multiply, but they are all…

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

The first and most common technique. Instead of letting the model answer from its training, you first retrieve relevant documents—from a database, a knowledge base, a set of files—…

Tool Use and Function Calling

RAG hands the model documents. Tool use hands it capabilities.

The Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Tool use used to be bespoke—every app wired its tools to its model in its own way.

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The pillar made the case for computation-first AI. This is the toolbox: retrieval, tool use, and MCP explained plainly, with a working example you can connect to today.

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