Integrating Generative AI into R Workflows: From APIs to Shiny Apps

Author

Christopher Runyon

Published

October 29, 2025

Welcome

Integrating Generative AI into R Workflows: From APIs to Shiny Apps

This online resource was created to be a user-friendly way to share the materials in support of the “Integrating Generative AI into R Workflows: From APIs to Shiny Apps” workshop, first given at AIMECON in October, 2025.

Although created primarily for this purpose, I intend to periodically update these materials as I learn and as the models continue to evolve.

This website licensed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.

Changes to the book last made on:

2025-10-29 13:43:12 (GMT)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Explain key LLM architectural features that inform effective integration practices
Apply prompt engineering principles to achieve useful outputs in R workflows
Implement both conversational and transcational API interactions with LLMs from R
Design and deploy simple chained prompt workflows for complex tasks
Build interactive Shiny applications that leverage LLM capabilities for end-user functionality

This resource is a living document. Here’s what I plan on covering next:

Topic	Expected Completion Date / Completed on Date	Link to Section (when complete)
File Uploads	Q2 2025
Web Search via API	Q2 2025
RAG Models / ragnar	Q2 2025
Multi-Agentic Systems	Q2 2025

⚠️ Privacy Reminder

Please don’t enter any personal, confidential, or sensitive information into generative AI tools. This includes private details about yourself or others, as well as proprietary data. Assume that anything you input could be used to train future models or be visible to others. It is important for you to consult both your IT departments and legal counsel before using a generative AI model in any operational setting.

⚖️ Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this resource is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act upon any information presented without first seeking qualified legal counsel regarding your specific situation. The author disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the content provided here.

# Welcome {.unnumbered} ```{r} #| include: false # This chunk activates knitr for inline code ``` This online resource was created to be a user-friendly way to share the materials in support of the "Integrating Generative AI into R Workflows: From APIs to Shiny Apps" workshop, first given at [AIMECON in October, 2025](https://www.xcdsystem.com/ncme/program/4HfWHuL/index.cfm). Although created primarily for this purpose, I intend to periodically update these materials as I learn and as the models continue to evolve. This website licensed under the [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.en) License.  Changes to the book last made on: **`r format(Sys.time(), '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')`** (GMT) *** <div style="font-size: 1.75em; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 1em; color: black;"> Learning Objectives </div> [By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:]{.underline} - Explain key LLM architectural features that inform effective integration practices - Apply prompt engineering principles to achieve useful outputs in R workflows - Implement both conversational and transcational API interactions with LLMs from R - Design and deploy simple chained prompt workflows for complex tasks - Build interactive Shiny applications that leverage LLM capabilities for end-user functionality *** This resource is a living document. Here's what I plan on covering next: | **Topic** | **Expected Completion Date / Completed on Date** | **Link to Section** (when complete) | |:---------------------:|:------------------------------------------------:|:-----------------------------------:| | File Uploads | Q2 2025 | | | Web Search via API | Q2 2025 | | | RAG Models / ragnar | Q2 2025 | | | Multi-Agentic Systems | Q2 2025 | | *** <div style="font-size: 1.75em; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 1em; color: black;"> ⚠️ Privacy Reminder </div> Please don’t enter any personal, confidential, or sensitive information into generative AI tools. This includes private details about yourself or others, as well as proprietary data. Assume that anything you input could be used to train future models or be visible to others. It is important for you to consult both your IT departments and legal counsel before using a generative AI model in any operational setting. *** <div style="font-size: 1.75em; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 1em; color: black;"> ⚖️ Legal Disclaimer </div> The information provided in this resource is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act upon any information presented without first seeking qualified legal counsel regarding your specific situation. The author disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the content provided here.