Add AI capabilities to your C# application using Semantic Kernel from Microsoft (Part 2)

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Using the Semantic Kernel SDK

On my machine, I am running macOS Ventura on an Apple M1 Pro chip, but the same steps should work on any environment.

Prerequisites

• .NET Core / CLI
• Semantic Kernel SDK
• OpenAI API Key
• Visual Studio Code (or your preferred IDE)

Step 1: Create a new C# Console app

In your terminal window type the following: mkdir SKDemo && cd SKDemo. Then, create a new C# console app by typing: dotnet new console.

Now, your SKDemo root directory should look like this:

Install the Semantic Kernel SDK package from NuGet by entering the following command:

dotnet add package Microsoft.SemanticKernel --version 1.0.1

In our Program.cs file, let's prepare a few things:

// Import the Kernel class from the Microsoft.SemanticKernel namespace
using Kernel = Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Kernel;

// Create a new Kernel builder
var builder = Kernel.CreateBuilder();

// Add OpenAI Chat Completion to the builder
builder.AddOpenAIChatCompletion(
         "gpt-3.5-turbo",
         "OPENAI_API_KEY");

We're now ready to start building our Plugins and Functions.

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Step 2: Create the Plugins folder

Great, you've made it this far so you're serious about using Semantic Kernel. If you recall from Part 1 of this tutorial, we're going to build two plugins:

1. FactmanPlugin: Responsible for all myth-related tasks and will include the following functions:
   1. FindMyth: Finds a common myth about AI.
   2. BustMyth: Fact-checks and busts the myth.
   3. AdaptMessage: Adjust the content to align with the specific posting guidelines of a given social media platform.
2. SocialPlugin: Our second plugin will be used by the Kernel to simulate posting to social media platforms using only one function: Post.

Let's create our Plugins folder, then we'll create another nested folder for our Plugin: FactmanPlugin.

Make sure you're in the root folder SKDemo. Then, in your terminal window type the following:

• mkdir Plugins && cd Plugins
• mkdir FactmanPlugin && cd FactmanPlugin

Step 3: Create the FindMyth function

Since we will instruct the LLM and ask it to generate a common myth about AI, this function will be of type Prompt.

1. Create FindMyth folder: While in the FactmanPlugin directory, type the following: mkdir FindMyth && cd FindMyth

Now, in the FindMyth directory, we'll need two files: skprompt.txt and config.json.

2. Create skprompt.txt file: This file will contain the natural language prompt for generating AI myths. Create it using the touch command: touch skprompt.txt

The following should go into the skprompt.txt file:

GENERATE A MYTH ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

MYTH MUST BE:
- G RATED
- WORKPLACE AND FAMILY SAFE
- NO SEXISM, RACISM OR OTHER BIAS/BIGOTRY

DO NOT INVENT MYTHS ABOUT REAL PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS

3. Create config.json file: This file will be used for our function’s configuration settings. Create it using the touch command: touch config.json.

The following JSON should go into the config.json file:

{
  "schema": 1,
  "description": "Find a common myth about AI",
  "execution_settings": {
    "default": {
      "max_tokens": 1000,
      "temperature": 0.9,
      "top_p": 0.0,
      "presence_penalty": 0.0,
      "frequency_penalty": 0.0
    }
  }
}