Today's Deep-Dive: Open WebUI
Ep. 137

Today's Deep-Dive: Open WebUI

Episode description

Open Web UI is a self-hosted platform that allows users to run large language models on their own computers, providing offline AI capabilities and complete control over data and experience. The installation process is user-friendly, starting with a simple Python command, while also accommodating more tech-savvy users through Docker and Kubernetes. The platform fosters a vibrant community where users can build, share, and access custom AI models and tools, expanding the potential applications of AI significantly. Notable models include a conversational AI for historical figures, mental health support tools, and even tarot card reading generators. Features like Retrieval Augmented Generation enhance the personalization of AI interactions by allowing it to process user-specific documents. Open Web UI is designed to be accessible for all technical levels, encouraging experimentation and innovation. The community is actively developing new features and tools, making the platform continually evolve. Users are invited to consider what unique AI personas or tools they might create to solve problems or express creativity. The document emphasizes the importance of community support and resources, highlighted by a partnership with Safe Server, which offers guidance for self-hosting and digital transformation. Overall, Open Web UI represents a powerful entry point into the world of AI for anyone curious to explore and create.

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0:00

Welcome back, everybody, for another deep dive.

0:02

This time, we're looking at Open Web UI.

0:05

And it's a fascinating topic.

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And yeah, we're going to explore it.

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Yeah.

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And so imagine, if you will, having the power of AI

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right there on your own computer customized just for you,

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ready to go, even if you don't have internet access.

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Offline AI.

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Offline, exactly.

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Yeah.

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Now, that might sound pretty complicated,

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but that's kind of what we're here to unpack today.

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We're going to look at how accessible this is,

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even if you're a beginner.

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Absolutely.

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But before we get started, I do want

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to give a shout out to our sponsor, Safe Server.

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They're experts in digital transformation.

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And they can even help you host Open Web UI

0:41

and really get the most out of it.

0:43

So check them out at www.safeserver.de.

0:46

Absolutely.

0:47

Now back to Open Web UI.

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Think of it kind of like a platform for running

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large language models.

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You know, those are those AI brains

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behind all the chat bots and all the content generation

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that you see.

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But here's the key difference.

1:00

You host it yourself.

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Right.

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Meaning you control the data.

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You control the entire experience.

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It's huge.

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I don't have to rely on an internet connection

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or a third party service.

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That's right.

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It's really about taking ownership of the AI.

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Yes.

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Instead of just using someone else's AI,

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you're curating your own.

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Exactly.

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You're in the driver's seat.

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You're choosing which models you want to run.

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Right.

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The ones that fit your needs.

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And what's really cool is that setup

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is surprisingly straightforward.

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It is, yeah.

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You can get started with a simple Python installation.

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It's pretty much like downloading an app.

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But if you're a little more tech savvy

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and you're comfortable with things like Docker or Kubernetes,

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Open Web UI offers that kind of flexibility, too.

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It does, yeah.

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And that's what's so remarkable about Open Web UI

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is that it really does cater to all these different technical

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levels.

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If you're just starting out beginning your AI journey,

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it's designed to be user friendly.

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So once you have Open Web UI up and running,

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what can you actually do with it?

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Well, that's where things get really interesting.

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There's this whole community of users

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that are building and sharing custom models and tools.

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It's a very vibrant ecosystem.

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It is.

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And it really expands the possibilities

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of what you can do with AI.

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Oh, yeah.

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Far beyond what you might expect.

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It's like an app store for AI, but it's entirely

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community driven.

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Exactly.

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So you find models for everything.

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Everything.

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From simulating conversations with historical figures

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to generating creative content to analyzing data.

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Even helping you with specific tasks.

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It's really amazing.

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It is.

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The breadth of what you can find.

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We're talking things like, imagine

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being able to have a conversation with a simulated

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Nikola Tesla.

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Oh, wow.

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Or a mental health assistant that's

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designed to offer support and coping strategies.

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Right.

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There's even a model that generates tarot card

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readings complete with images.

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I love that one.

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Yeah.

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It's pretty wild.

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It's really incredible, the variety.

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Yeah.

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And it really speaks to the creativity of the open web UI

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community.

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It really does.

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One of the features that really stood out to me was ARI.

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Oh, yeah.

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Retrieval Augmented Generation.

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It essentially allows the AI to access and process

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your own documents.

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Wow.

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It's amazing.

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That's incredible.

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Imagine asking a chat bot a question,

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and it pulls relevant information

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from your research papers or meeting notes

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to give you this truly personalized and informed

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answer.

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That's the power of ARI.

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Yeah, it's powerful stuff.

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It really is.

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So let's dive into the installation process

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a little bit.

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Now, we mentioned the simplest way using Python.

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You just open your terminal, and you type pip install openwebui.

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And it's pretty much like downloading any other software.

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Yeah, it's very straightforward.

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Of course, while Python is a great starting point,

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Docker and Kubernetes provide more flexibility and control.

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They do, especially if you're comfortable

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with those technologies.

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And that's where SafeServer's expertise

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can be incredibly valuable.

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Absolutely.

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They could help you choose the best installation

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method for your needs.

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And they can even guide you through the entire process,

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ensuring you have a really smooth and successful setup.

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They're great at that.

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Now, self-hosting might sound kind of daunting to some people.

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Sure.

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But the benefits are significant.

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You're in control of your data, your models,

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the entire AI experience.

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Privacy and security are paramount,

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so that's a huge plus.

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Speaking of control, the Open Web UI community

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is another aspect that makes this platform so exciting.

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Oh, absolutely.

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It's not just about using pre-built AI.

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It's about exploring, learning, and even contributing

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to this rapidly evolving field.

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It's about becoming a part of the community,

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contributing to its growth.

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Yeah, and the community is constantly developing

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new models and tools.

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Pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

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And it's all shared openly for everyone to benefit from.

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That's right.

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OK, we've talked about installation.

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We've talked about community.

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But let's delve into some of the specific models

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that really showcase the power and the versatility

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of open web UI.

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I'm excited to hear about this.

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Let's start with the Nikolaus Tesla model.

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Imagine having a conversation with one of history's greatest

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inventors right there on your computer.

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It's mind blowing.

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You could ask him about his inventions, his theories,

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his vision of the future.

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The potential for creative exploration and learning

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is huge.

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It is.

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It's really fascinating to think about.

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And of course, we have to address the mental health

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assistant model.

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Yeah, that's an important one.

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Now, while AI should never be a substitute

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for professional help, this model

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is designed to offer support, coping strategies,

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and resources for people that might be struggling

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with mental health challenges.

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Right, and I think that's a really interesting application

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of AI, using it to try and make a positive impact

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in that area.

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And on a lighter note, there's the Tera with images model.

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Oh yes, I was gonna say, don't forget about that one.

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I love this one.

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You ask a question, and it not only generates a reading,

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but it also provides images of the cards.

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Which is really cool.

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So it makes it really visual and engaging.

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Yeah, it's a fun example.

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It is.

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That shows the wide range

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of what you can do with Open Web UI.

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Yeah, it can be a tool for serious work,

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creative exploration, or just a bit of fun.

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Exactly.

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Now, besides models, the Open Web UI community

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also develops a wide range of tools

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that extend the platform's functionality even further.

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I do.

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And one tool that really stood out to me was DeepAgent.

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Okay.

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Which allows you to query databases

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directly from the chat interface.

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Oh, wow.

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So think about the possibilities.

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Yeah.

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For someone who's interested in data analysis or research.

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Absolutely.

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Instead of writing complex code,

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they could just ask natural language questions

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and get insights from their data.

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Yeah.

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In a more intuitive way.

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That's fantastic.

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And new tools are being added all the time.

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Right.

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Expanding what you can do with Open Web UI.

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It's amazing how quickly it's evolving.

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It really is like having a Swiss Army knife for AI.

6:56

Yeah.

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And the community is constantly adding

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new blades to the set.

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And speaking of the future,

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the Open Web UI team themselves are incredibly active.

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Oh, they are.

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They're constantly adding new features and improvements.

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Their roadmap is packed with exciting developments.

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Yeah, for sure.

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One thing that really caught my eye was the pipelines.

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Plug-in framework that they're working on.

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It's designed to let users create

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even more custom functionality.

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Wow.

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Essentially building their own AI powered tools

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and workflows.

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It's really exciting.

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It sounds incredibly powerful.

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It's almost like Open Web UI is evolving

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into a platform for building platforms.

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Precisely.

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Wow.

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And the thing is, you don't have to be a coding expert

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to take advantage of all these features.

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Open Web UI is designed with accessibility in mind.

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So it empowers users of all different technical levels

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to experiment and innovate.

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So we've covered a lot of ground here.

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We have.

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We talked about what Open Web UI is,

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the different ways to install it,

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the amazing community driving its development,

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and some of the incredible things

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that people are already doing with it.

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It really is a testament to the power of open source.

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You know, when you have a community like that,

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so passionate, working together,

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sharing ideas, sharing resources,

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the pace of innovation just skyrockets.

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Absolutely, and for you, our listener,

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you know, this deep dive into Open Web UI

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is really about highlighting the potential

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that exists right at your fingertips.

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It is.

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It's about moving beyond just simply using AI

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to understanding how it works,

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customizing it, even contributing to its evolution.

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It's about becoming an active participant

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in the AI revolution.

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Not just a consumer.

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Exactly.

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And the best part is you don't need a degree

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in computer science.

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Nope.

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You don't need access to expensive resources.

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Open Web UI provides this platform

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that's both powerful and accessible,

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allowing anyone, anyone with a curious mind

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to really explore the world of AI.

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And with the continuous development,

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the vibrant community behind it,

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it's only gonna get better.

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More powerful, more versatile.

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So as we start to wrap up this deep dive,

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we want to leave you with a thought-provoking question.

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Okay.

9:11

If you could create your own AI persona or tool

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within Open Web UI, what would it be?

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What problem would it solve?

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Yes.

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What kind of creative expression would it enable?

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Let your imagination run wild.

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Yeah.

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Think about your interests, your passions,

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the challenges you face in your work,

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or even in your personal life.

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Absolutely.

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Open Web UI provides the tools and the community.

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It does.

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To turn those ideas into reality.

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And who knows, maybe your creation

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will be the next big thing on the Open Web UI community,

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inspiring others and pushing the boundaries even further.

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And before we sign off, a big thank you again

9:49

to Safe Server for supporting this deep dive.

9:51

Absolutely.

9:51

If you're looking to explore the world of self-hosted AI,

9:54

whether it's for personal projects, business solutions,

9:57

Safe Server has the expertise and the resources

10:00

to help you get started.

10:01

They do.

10:01

Check them out at www.safeserver.dd

10:05

to learn more about their services

10:07

and how they can help you navigate

10:08

this exciting world of digital transformation.

10:11

And to our listener, keep exploring.

10:14

Keep learning.

10:14

Yes.

10:15

Keep pushing those boundaries, because the world of AI

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is vast.

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It is.

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And it's constantly evolving.

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And Open Web UI provides a fantastic entry point

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for anyone eager to dive in.

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So until next time, happy exploring.

10:29

It's like Open Web UI gives you the ingredients, the recipe

10:32

book, but you get to decide what kind of culinary masterpiece

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you're going to create.

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Exactly.

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And the beauty is, you don't have to be a master chef

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to get started.

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There's this supportive community that's

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ready to share tips and techniques and even taste

10:45

test your creations.

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It's true.

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It's like a global potluck.

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It is.

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Where everyone brings their unique flavors

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and everyone benefits from this shared feast.

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It's not just about the dishes themselves, though, is it?

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It's about the conversations, the connections,

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the shared passion for exploring new possibilities.

11:02

Well said.

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And on that note, we want to thank you, our listeners,

11:07

for joining us on this deep dive into the world of OpenWebUI.

11:11

We hope it's sparked some curiosity

11:14

and given you a glimpse of what's

11:15

possible with this platform.

11:17

Remember, OpenWebUI is more than just a tool.

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It is.

11:21

It's a gateway to a world of AI exploration, learning,

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and creation.

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So go ahead.

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Dive in.

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Experiment.

11:29

Explore the community.

11:31

Maybe even try building something yourself.

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Absolutely.

11:33

The only limit is your imagination.

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And if you're looking for guidance or support

11:37

on your AI journey, don't forget to check out SafeServer

11:40

at www.safeserver.dd.

11:43

They're the experts.

11:44

They can help you navigate this exciting world.

11:46

Until next time, happy exploring.

11:46

Until next time, happy exploring.