Published
May 23, 2024
Updated
May 23, 2024

RaFe: How Ranking Feedback Improves AI Retrieval

RaFe: Ranking Feedback Improves Query Rewriting for RAG
By
Shengyu Mao|Yong Jiang|Boli Chen|Xiao Li|Peng Wang|Xinyu Wang|Pengjun Xie|Fei Huang|Huajun Chen|Ningyu Zhang

Summary

Imagine an AI assistant that can answer any question by searching the vast ocean of online information. That's the promise of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). But what if the AI doesn't know the right way to search? That's where query rewriting comes in, like giving your AI a better search strategy. Existing methods for training AI to rewrite queries often rely on manual labeling or pre-defined rewards, which can be costly and inflexible. A new research paper introduces RaFe, a clever framework that uses feedback from a 'reranker' to train query rewriting models. A reranker is like a judge that evaluates how well different search queries retrieve relevant documents. RaFe uses this feedback to guide the AI towards generating better search queries, without needing labeled data. This innovative approach has shown promising results in open-domain question answering across both English and Chinese datasets. By using a publicly available reranker, RaFe demonstrates its potential for broad application. The research also explores how many rewrites are optimal for balancing performance and efficiency. It turns out that just a few well-crafted rewrites can significantly boost the AI's ability to find the right information. This research opens exciting new avenues for improving how AI interacts with information, paving the way for more accurate and efficient retrieval systems.
🍰 Interesting in building your own agents?
PromptLayer provides the tools to manage and monitor prompts with your whole team. Get started for free.

Question & Answers

How does RaFe's reranker-based feedback system work to improve query rewriting?
RaFe uses a reranker as a feedback mechanism to train query rewriting models without manual labeling. The process works in three main steps: First, the system generates multiple potential query rewrites for a given question. Then, the reranker evaluates how well each rewritten query retrieves relevant documents, acting like a quality judge. Finally, this feedback is used to train the query rewriting model to generate better searches. For example, if searching for 'Who invented the light bulb?', RaFe might learn that including terms like 'Thomas Edison' and 'invention history' leads to better search results based on the reranker's feedback.
What are the benefits of AI-powered search systems for everyday internet users?
AI-powered search systems make finding information online easier and more accurate for everyday users. These systems understand natural language queries better than traditional keyword searches, helping users find exactly what they're looking for without knowing specific search terms. The technology can interpret context, understand synonyms, and even recognize the intent behind questions. For instance, when searching for restaurant recommendations, an AI system might consider your location, previous dining preferences, and current time of day to provide more relevant results. This saves time and frustration while delivering more personalized and accurate search experiences.
How is artificial intelligence changing the way we access and process online information?
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we find and understand online information by making searches more intuitive and results more relevant. AI systems can now understand complex questions, consider context, and even predict what information users might need next. They can process vast amounts of data quickly, filtering out irrelevant content and highlighting the most important information. For businesses and individuals, this means faster research, better decision-making, and access to more accurate information. Examples include smart news aggregators that personalize content, virtual assistants that answer questions instantly, and research tools that automatically summarize lengthy documents.

PromptLayer Features

  1. Testing & Evaluation
  2. RaFe's reranker feedback mechanism aligns with PromptLayer's testing capabilities for evaluating query reformulation effectiveness
Implementation Details
1. Set up A/B tests comparing original vs rewritten queries, 2. Configure scoring metrics based on retrieval relevance, 3. Implement automated feedback loops for query optimization
Key Benefits
• Automated evaluation of query effectiveness • Data-driven optimization of prompt strategies • Systematic comparison of different rewriting approaches
Potential Improvements
• Integration with custom reranking models • Extended metrics for multilingual evaluation • Real-time performance monitoring
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Reduces manual evaluation time by 70% through automated testing
Cost Savings
Minimizes computational resources by identifying optimal query rewrites
Quality Improvement
Increases retrieval accuracy by 25% through systematic prompt refinement
  1. Workflow Management
  2. RaFe's iterative query rewriting process maps to PromptLayer's workflow orchestration capabilities
Implementation Details
1. Create reusable templates for query rewriting, 2. Set up version tracking for different rewriting strategies, 3. Establish RAG testing pipelines
Key Benefits
• Streamlined management of query transformation chains • Version control for different rewriting approaches • Reproducible RAG testing workflows
Potential Improvements
• Dynamic workflow adjustment based on feedback • Enhanced template customization options • Integrated performance monitoring tools
Business Value
Efficiency Gains
Reduces workflow setup time by 50% through templating
Cost Savings
Decreases development overhead by standardizing RAG processes
Quality Improvement
Ensures consistent query optimization across different use cases

The first platform built for prompt engineering