This project is no longer accepting applications. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of new projects!
In this project we will write Python code that integrates with third-party Large Language Model (LLM) to solve real-life problems, for example automatic email replying.
With the rapid rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the tech industry, mastering the ability to integrate these models into software solutions has become a key skill for developers. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Software Developer and build an automated email reply system using Python and third-party LLMs. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll write code to integrate LLMs with email systems, enabling the generation of contextually accurate responses in real time. You'll become familiar with API integration, natural language processing, and automation tools. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real AI-driven development team, giving you valuable experience in a growing field.
We'll kick off with an introduction to the project, discussing the role of LLMs in tech and their real-world applications. You’ll get an overview of the project goals, timeline, and final deliverables, as well as the tools we'll be using.
Description: In this session, we’ll help you set up your Python environment, familiarize you with essential libraries, and introduce API integration for connecting to an LLM. By the end, you’ll be ready to start coding.
We’ll walk through the architecture of your automated email system, including how LLMs interact with your application. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to structure your code and integrate the API effectively.
Start coding the main component of the project—integrating LLMs to generate automated email replies. You’ll focus on writing the initial code and structuring your solution to ensure a solid foundation.
Continue coding and refining the automated email system, adding advanced features and handling edge cases. This session will help you complete the core functionality and ensure your system can handle a variety of email contexts.
Learn how to test your automated email API and debug issues that arise. We’ll focus on refining the system to improve response and explore prompt engineering for LLMs.
Build your 6-8 slide presentation, focusing on explaining the problem, your solution, and key features of the system. We’ll guide you in preparing a concise project description in your resume to present as part of a mock interview.
Present your project in a simulated job interview setting by recording an async video answering common questions from hiring manager. This is your chance to showcase your technical work, explain your system’s functionality, and receive feedback on both your project and presentation skills.
Python Programming Fundamentals: Students need to be comfortable with Python syntax, including writing functions, handling data structures like dictionaries and lists, and understanding control flows such as if-else, for-loop.
API Integration: Students should have a basic understanding of how APIs work, including making requests and handling responses. We will cover the API integration process in detail during the project, so familiarity with libraries like requests will be helpful but not required upfront.
Version Control with Git: Students should have basic knowledge GitHub, including committing code, pushing to a repository, and branching. This is not required but having code on your own GitHub account would be a bonus point on your resume.
Get access to all of our Build projects, including this one, by creating your Build account!
Get started by submitting your application.
We'll notify you when projects reopen. In the meantime, you can explore our resources and learn more about our Fellows.
Yuan Sun is a Computer Science Build Fellow at Open Avenues, where he works with students leading projects in computer science and software development.
Yuan is a Software Engineer at Otter.ai, where he focuses on backend software development. Yuan has over three years of experience in the software engineering field. He works across backend systems in a fast-growing early stage startup. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from University of Illinois.
In his spare time, Yuan enjoys sports, including basketball, running, and working out.