The Role of Preprocessing in RAG

Preprocessing is an essential step in building a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline, accounting for about half of the project's workload. It involves preparing and indexing data so that the RAG system can generate accurate answers. The process includes examining and extracting data, cleaning it, chunking it into optimal lengths, adding metadata, and finally indexing it. Advanced techniques such as Named Entity Recognition (NER), language classification, semantic chunking, and multimodal processing can be incorporated to customize the preprocessing pipeline for specific use cases. In production systems, distributed architectures and technologies like Kubernetes are used to manage high throughput and low latency requirements. deepset Cloud offers a comprehensive solution for indexing with its speed, flexibility, and ease of customization.