π― The core problem
Verification requires two things:- LLM translates the query (natural language β structured reasoning)
- Symbolic verifier proves the answer (SymPy, Z3, AST)
π LLM accuracy comparison
Math verification example
Query: βWhat is the integral of 2x?βWhy this matters
When QWED verifies:π€ When to use each
π‘ QWEDβs hybrid approach
Best Practice: Use both strategicallyDevelopment setup (free)
Use for: Prototyping, experimentation, learning
Production setup (reliable)
Use for: Production, high-stakes decisions
π° Cost analysis
Local LLM (Ollama)
- Setup: 10 minutes (download model)
- Monthly Cost: $0
- Accuracy: 70-80% on math/logic
- Privacy: 100% local
- Best for: Development, testing, learning
Cloud LLM (OpenAI GPT-4o-mini)
- Setup: 2 minutes (API key)
- Monthly Cost: $5-10 (with caching)
- Accuracy: 90-95% on math/logic
- Privacy: Use PII masking
- Best for: Production, critical tasks
With QWED caching (cost savings)
π Privacy considerations
Local LLM advantages
β Private β data stays on your machineβ No API keys - no third-party access
β Compliance - easier GDPR/HIPAA compliance
Cloud LLM with PII masking
π― Recommendation by use case
Healthcare (HIPAA)
Finance (PCI-DSS)
Enterprise (general)
π The QWED advantage
Even with local LLMs, QWED catches errors!Scenario: local LLM makes mistake
- More failures = worse UX
- Cloud LLMs = fewer verification failures = better UX
π Accuracy in practice
From QWED internal testing:
Takeaway: Cloud LLMs reduce verification failures by 15-25%!
π Bottom line
Start with local LLM
Scale to cloud LLM
π Related documentation
- LLM configuration guide β complete LLM setup
- PII masking guide β privacy protection
- Caching guide β cost savings
β FAQ
Q: Can I use Llama 3 70B instead of GPT-4?A: Yes! Larger local models (70B+) approach cloud accuracy but require significant hardware (40GB+ VRAM). Q: Is Ollama really free?
A: Yes! Fully open source. You just need hardware to run it. Q: What about Google Gemini?
A: QWED supports Gemini! Similar accuracy to GPT-4/Claude. Q: Can I switch between local and cloud?
A: Absolutely! Change the
provider parameter anytime.
Q: Do I need PII masking with local LLMs?A: Not necessarily, but itβs still good practice for audit trails.
The choice is yours - QWED works with both! π Recommendation: Start local (free), scale to cloud (reliable) when it matters.