Any sample code reference for using Sematic Kernel ChatClient as IChatClient with Kernel Function as AI Functions

[vavjeeva]

Hello, is there any sample code available that demonstrates how to use the Semantic Kernel Chat Completion Interface as IChatClient with all kernel functions utilized as AI Functions? I haven't been able to find any examples in the GitHub repository. I only see references for using direct clients (AzureOpenAIClient, OllamClient) in the AI-Samples repo.

[rogerbarreto]

Hi @vavjeeva, that's a good question and I'm happy to give you some examples.

Semantic Kernel team is currently working to in the short-term recognize IChatClient directly by the Kernel.

While we still don't have that integration finalized you can convert existing IChatClient in a IChatCompletionService for Semantic Kernel, have a look in this example below:

https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/1874eebabad54113e98df18d13c730513b920453/dotnet/samples/Concepts/ChatCompletion/HybridCompletion_Fallback.cs#L48

We also have some examples on our Ollama connector implementation where OllamaApiClient implements IChatClient here:

https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/1874eebabad54113e98df18d13c730513b920453/dotnet/src/Connectors/Connectors.Ollama/Extensions/OllamaServiceCollectionExtensions.cs#L158-L167

You can do the inverse as well, where your IChatCompletionService and KernelFunction can converted as a IChatClient and AiFunction respectively using the AsChatClient and AsAIFunction extension methods.

We currently have an issue being resolved for plugin->function conversion a good example was provided by one contributor in the issue below (being fixed soon).

• .Net: Bug: Converting Kernel Plugins to AIFunctions fails name validation microsoft/semantic-kernel#10819