Vector Databases: Embeddings, Semantic Search, and Hybrid Retrieval
This is the 2nd workshop in our series to update the LLM Zoomcamp content.
This workshop updates Module 3: Vector Search.
In this hands-on session, Alexey Grigorev will show how to add semantic search to a RAG application using embeddings and a vector database.
You’ll learn how to turn text into embeddings, index them, search for semantically similar documents, and use the results as context for an LLM.
What you’ll learn:
What vector search is and how it differs from keyword search
What embeddings are and how they represent text
How to embed FAQ documents for semantic retrieval
How to index text data in a vector database
How to run semantic search over indexed documents
How to use vector search inside a RAG pipeline
How to compare vector search with keyword search
How hybrid search combines semantic and keyword retrieval
When vector search works well and where it can fail
How retrieval quality affects the final LLM answer
By the end, you’ll have a RAG pipeline that uses vector search to retrieve semantically relevant documents and generate answers based on them.
Like the other workshops, this will be a live demo with practical tips and time for Q&A.
All events in these series:
Vector Databases: Embeddings, Semantic Search, and Hybrid Retrieval
RAG and Agents Evaluation: Measuring Retrieval and LLM Answer Quality
Monitoring LLM Applications: Traces, Feedback, and Production Quality
Thinking about Joining LLM Zoomcamp?
This workshop covers the updated content for Module 3 of the LLM Zoomcamp, our free course on building practical LLM applications with RAG, vector search, evaluation, monitoring, and AI agents.
You start with a simple RAG pipeline, then improve it with better retrieval, semantic search, function calling, evaluation, monitoring, and production practices.
The course covers the full lifecycle of an LLM application: from the first working prototype to evaluation, monitoring, and a complete final project.
The new cohort of LLM Zoomcamp starts on June 8, 2026. You can join it by registering here.
About the Speaker
Alexey Grigorev is the Founder of DataTalks.Club and creator of the Zoomcamp series.
Alexey is a software and ML engineer with over 10 years in engineering and 6+ years in machine learning. He has deployed large-scale ML systems at companies like OLX Group and Simplaex, authored several technical books, including Machine Learning Bookcamp, and is a Kaggle Master with a 1st place finish in the NIPS’17 Criteo Challenge.
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