How to determine if a system uses RAG

Determining if a system uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) involves examining its architecture and response patterns. It is feasible to identify RAG usage through specific indicators.

Key signs include explicit mentions in documentation, architecture diagrams showing a separate retrieval component (like a vector database), observable query phases (initial search query generation), integration with external knowledge bases or document stores, and responses directly citing retrieved source snippets. System behavior, such as immediate knowledge cutoff after source data update or citation generation, strongly suggests RAG. API or log traces revealing calls to retrieval services are also definitive evidence.

Conduct these checks: Firstly, review official system documentation for RAG mentions. Secondly, analyze user interaction sequences; observe if complex queries trigger distinct search-like activities. Thirdly, inspect API calls or logs for requests to external knowledge sources or vector databases. Fourthly, monitor response quality; look for citations matching specific source passages and verify knowledge updates immediately after source data changes. Finally, attempt to trace the retrieval service calls within the system infrastructure. This verification helps understand system capabilities and limitations.