diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/basic.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/basic.py
index cbd48ec62..a4e497762 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/basic.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/basic.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union, cast
 
-from annoy import AnnoyIndex
+from annoy import AnnoyIndex  # type: ignore
 
 from nemoguardrails.embeddings.cache import cache_embeddings
 from nemoguardrails.embeddings.index import EmbeddingsIndex, IndexItem
@@ -45,26 +45,14 @@ class BasicEmbeddingsIndex(EmbeddingsIndex):
         max_batch_hold: The maximum time a batch is held before being processed
     """
 
-    embedding_model: str
-    embedding_engine: str
-    embedding_params: Dict[str, Any]
-    index: AnnoyIndex
-    embedding_size: int
-    cache_config: EmbeddingsCacheConfig
-    embeddings: List[List[float]]
-    search_threshold: float
-    use_batching: bool
-    max_batch_size: int
-    max_batch_hold: float
-
     def __init__(
         self,
-        embedding_model=None,
-        embedding_engine=None,
-        embedding_params=None,
-        index=None,
-        cache_config: Union[EmbeddingsCacheConfig, Dict[str, Any]] = None,
-        search_threshold: float = None,
+        embedding_model: str = "sentence-transformers/all-MiniLM-L6-v2",
+        embedding_engine: str = "SentenceTransformers",
+        embedding_params: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+        index: Optional[AnnoyIndex] = None,
+        cache_config: Optional[Union[EmbeddingsCacheConfig, Dict[str, Any]]] = None,
+        search_threshold: float = float("inf"),
         use_batching: bool = False,
         max_batch_size: int = 10,
         max_batch_hold: float = 0.01,
@@ -72,22 +60,23 @@ def __init__(
         """Initialize the BasicEmbeddingsIndex.
 
         Args:
-            embedding_model (str, optional): The model for computing embeddings. Defaults to None.
-            embedding_engine (str, optional): The engine for computing embeddings. Defaults to None.
-            index (AnnoyIndex, optional): The pre-existing index. Defaults to None.
-            cache_config (EmbeddingsCacheConfig | Dict[str, Any], optional): The cache configuration. Defaults to None.
+            embedding_model: The model for computing embeddings.
+            embedding_engine: The engine for computing embeddings.
+            index: The pre-existing index.
+            cache_config: The cache configuration.
+            search_threshold: The threshold for filtering search results.
             use_batching: Whether to batch requests when computing the embeddings.
             max_batch_size: The maximum size of a batch.
             max_batch_hold: The maximum time a batch is held before being processed
         """
         self._model: Optional[EmbeddingModel] = None
-        self._items = []
-        self._embeddings = []
+        self._items: List[IndexItem] = []
+        self._embeddings: List[List[float]] = []
         self.embedding_model = embedding_model
         self.embedding_engine = embedding_engine
         self.embedding_params = embedding_params or {}
         self._embedding_size = 0
-        self.search_threshold = search_threshold or float("inf")
+        self.search_threshold = search_threshold
         if isinstance(cache_config, Dict):
             self._cache_config = EmbeddingsCacheConfig(**cache_config)
         else:
@@ -95,12 +84,12 @@ def __init__(
         self._index = index
 
         # Data structures for batching embedding requests
-        self._req_queue = {}
-        self._req_results = {}
-        self._req_idx = 0
-        self._current_batch_finished_event = None
-        self._current_batch_full_event = None
-        self._current_batch_submitted = asyncio.Event()
+        self._req_queue: Dict[int, str] = {}
+        self._req_results: Dict[int, List[float]] = {}
+        self._req_idx: int = 0
+        self._current_batch_finished_event: Optional[asyncio.Event] = None
+        self._current_batch_full_event: Optional[asyncio.Event] = None
+        self._current_batch_submitted: asyncio.Event = asyncio.Event()
 
         # Initialize the batching configuration
         self.use_batching = use_batching
@@ -112,6 +101,11 @@ def embeddings_index(self):
         """Get the current embedding index"""
         return self._index
 
+    @embeddings_index.setter
+    def embeddings_index(self, index):
+        """Setter to allow replacing the index dynamically."""
+        self._index = index
+
     @property
     def cache_config(self):
         """Get the cache configuration."""
@@ -127,16 +121,14 @@ def embeddings(self):
         """Get the computed embeddings."""
         return self._embeddings
 
-    @embeddings_index.setter
-    def embeddings_index(self, index):
-        """Setter to allow replacing the index dynamically."""
-        self._index = index
-
     def _init_model(self):
         """Initialize the model used for computing the embeddings."""
+        model = self.embedding_model
+        engine = self.embedding_engine
+
         self._model = init_embedding_model(
-            embedding_model=self.embedding_model,
-            embedding_engine=self.embedding_engine,
+            embedding_model=model,
+            embedding_engine=engine,
             embedding_params=self.embedding_params,
         )
 
@@ -153,7 +145,9 @@ async def _get_embeddings(self, texts: List[str]) -> List[List[float]]:
         if self._model is None:
             self._init_model()
 
-        embeddings = await self._model.encode_async(texts)
+        # self._model can't be None here, or self._init_model() would throw a ValueError
+        model: EmbeddingModel = cast(EmbeddingModel, self._model)
+        embeddings = await model.encode_async(texts)
         return embeddings
 
     async def add_item(self, item: IndexItem):
@@ -199,6 +193,12 @@ async def _run_batch(self):
         """Runs the current batch of embeddings."""
 
         # Wait up to `max_batch_hold` time or until `max_batch_size` is reached.
+        if (
+            self._current_batch_full_event is None
+            or self._current_batch_finished_event is None
+        ):
+            raise RuntimeError("Batch events not initialized. This should not happen.")
+
         done, pending = await asyncio.wait(
             [
                 asyncio.create_task(asyncio.sleep(self.max_batch_hold)),
@@ -244,7 +244,10 @@ async def _batch_get_embeddings(self, text: str) -> List[float]:
         self._req_idx += 1
         self._req_queue[req_id] = text
 
-        if self._current_batch_finished_event is None:
+        if (
+            self._current_batch_finished_event is None
+            or self._current_batch_full_event is None
+        ):
             self._current_batch_finished_event = asyncio.Event()
             self._current_batch_full_event = asyncio.Event()
             self._current_batch_submitted.clear()
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/cache.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/cache.py
index 9abeb1de2..cdef48c27 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/cache.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/cache.py
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from functools import singledispatchmethod
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, List
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional
+
+try:
+    import redis  # type: ignore
+except ImportError:
+    redis = None  # type: ignore
 
 from nemoguardrails.rails.llm.config import EmbeddingsCacheConfig
 
@@ -30,6 +35,8 @@
 class KeyGenerator(ABC):
     """Abstract class for key generators."""
 
+    name: str  # Class attribute that should be defined in subclasses
+
     @abstractmethod
     def generate_key(self, text: str) -> str:
         pass
@@ -76,6 +83,8 @@ def generate_key(self, text: str) -> str:
 class CacheStore(ABC):
     """Abstract class for cache stores."""
 
+    name: str
+
     @abstractmethod
     def get(self, key):
         """Get a value from the cache."""
@@ -147,7 +156,7 @@ class FilesystemCacheStore(CacheStore):
 
     name = "filesystem"
 
-    def __init__(self, cache_dir: str = None):
+    def __init__(self, cache_dir: Optional[str] = None):
         self._cache_dir = Path(cache_dir or ".cache/embeddings")
         self._cache_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
@@ -190,8 +199,10 @@ class RedisCacheStore(CacheStore):
     name = "redis"
 
     def __init__(self, host: str = "localhost", port: int = 6379, db: int = 0):
-        import redis
-
+        if redis is None:
+            raise ImportError(
+                "Could not import redis, please install it with `pip install redis`."
+            )
         self._redis = redis.Redis(host=host, port=port, db=db)
 
     def get(self, key):
@@ -207,9 +218,9 @@ def clear(self):
 class EmbeddingsCache:
     def __init__(
         self,
-        key_generator: KeyGenerator = None,
-        cache_store: CacheStore = None,
-        store_config: dict = None,
+        key_generator: KeyGenerator,
+        cache_store: CacheStore,
+        store_config: Optional[dict] = None,
     ):
         self._key_generator = key_generator
         self._cache_store = cache_store
@@ -218,7 +229,10 @@ def __init__(
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(cls, d: Dict[str, str]):
         key_generator = KeyGenerator.from_name(d.get("key_generator"))()
-        store_config = d.get("store_config")
+        store_config_raw = d.get("store_config")
+        store_config: dict = (
+            store_config_raw if isinstance(store_config_raw, dict) else {}
+        )
         cache_store = CacheStore.from_name(d.get("store"))(**store_config)
 
         return cls(key_generator=key_generator, cache_store=cache_store)
@@ -239,7 +253,7 @@ def get_config(self):
     def get(self, texts):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    @get.register
+    @get.register(str)
     def _(self, text: str):
         key = self._key_generator.generate_key(text)
         log.info(f"Fetching key {key} for text '{text[:20]}...' from cache")
@@ -248,7 +262,7 @@ def _(self, text: str):
 
         return result
 
-    @get.register
+    @get.register(list)
     def _(self, texts: list):
         cached = {}
 
@@ -266,13 +280,13 @@ def _(self, texts: list):
     def set(self, texts):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    @set.register
+    @set.register(str)
     def _(self, text: str, value: List[float]):
         key = self._key_generator.generate_key(text)
         log.info(f"Cache miss for text '{text}'. Storing key {key} in cache.")
         self._cache_store.set(key, value)
 
-    @set.register
+    @set.register(list)
     def _(self, texts: list, values: List[List[float]]):
         for text, value in zip(texts, values):
             self.set(text, value)
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/azureopenai.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/azureopenai.py
index 5c5906d5d..e77ab481a 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/azureopenai.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/azureopenai.py
@@ -46,17 +46,16 @@ class AzureEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
 
     def __init__(self, embedding_model: str):
         try:
-            from openai import AzureOpenAI
+            from openai import AzureOpenAI  # type: ignore
         except ImportError:
             raise ImportError(
-                "Could not import openai, please install it with "
-                "`pip install openai`."
+                "Could not import openai, please install it with `pip install openai`."
             )
         # Set Azure OpenAI API credentials
         self.client = AzureOpenAI(
             api_key=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY"),
             api_version=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_VERSION"),
-            azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),
+            azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),  # type: ignore
         )
 
         self.embedding_model = embedding_model
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/cohere.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/cohere.py
index 34cee4156..704e0bcd7 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/cohere.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/cohere.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 import asyncio
 from contextvars import ContextVar
-from typing import List
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List
 
 from .base import EmbeddingModel
 
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@
 # is changed, it will fail.
 async_client_var: ContextVar = ContextVar("async_client", default=None)
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import cohere
+    from cohere import AsyncClient, Client
+
 
 class CohereEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
     """
@@ -64,7 +68,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.model = embedding_model
         self.input_type = input_type
-        self.client = cohere.Client(**kwargs)
+        self.client = cohere.Client(**kwargs)  # type: ignore[reportCallIssue]
 
         self.embedding_size_dict = {
             "embed-v4.0": 1536,
@@ -120,6 +124,9 @@ def encode(self, documents: List[str]) -> List[List[float]]:
         """
 
         # Make embedding request to Cohere API
-        return self.client.embed(
+        # Since we don't pass embedding_types parameter, the response should be
+        # EmbeddingsFloatsEmbedResponse with embeddings as List[List[float]]
+        response = self.client.embed(
             texts=documents, model=self.model, input_type=self.input_type
-        ).embeddings
+        )
+        return response.embeddings  # type: ignore[return-value]
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/fastembed.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/fastembed.py
index 1062e566f..1359f7ab5 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/fastembed.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/fastembed.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class FastEmbedEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
     engine_name = "FastEmbed"
 
     def __init__(self, embedding_model: str, **kwargs):
-        from fastembed import TextEmbedding as Embedding
+        from fastembed import TextEmbedding as Embedding  # type: ignore
 
         # Enabling a short form model name for all-MiniLM-L6-v2.
         if embedding_model == "all-MiniLM-L6-v2":
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/google.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/google.py
index cf55399af..1f78974e6 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/google.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/google.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class GoogleEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
 
     def __init__(self, embedding_model: str, **kwargs):
         try:
-            from google import genai
+            from google import genai  # type: ignore[import]
 
         except ImportError:
             raise ImportError(
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/nim.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/nim.py
index dd5690a4d..8ea9c1d0f 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/nim.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/nim.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class NIMEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
 
     def __init__(self, embedding_model: str, **kwargs):
         try:
-            from langchain_nvidia_ai_endpoints import NVIDIAEmbeddings
+            from langchain_nvidia_ai_endpoints import NVIDIAEmbeddings  # type: ignore
 
             self.model = embedding_model
             self.document_embedder = NVIDIAEmbeddings(model=embedding_model, **kwargs)
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/openai.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/openai.py
index 83f83f8c2..bd12f2333 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/openai.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/openai.py
@@ -46,14 +46,14 @@ def __init__(
         **kwargs,
     ):
         try:
-            import openai
-            from openai import AsyncOpenAI, OpenAI
+            import openai  # type: ignore
+            from openai import AsyncOpenAI, OpenAI  # type: ignore
         except ImportError:
             raise ImportError(
                 "Could not import openai, please install it with "
                 "`pip install openai`."
             )
-        if openai.__version__ < "1.0.0":
+        if openai.__version__ < "1.0.0":  # type: ignore
             raise RuntimeError(
                 "`openai<1.0.0` is no longer supported. "
                 "Please upgrade using `pip install openai>=1.0.0`."
diff --git a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/sentence_transformers.py b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/sentence_transformers.py
index 7ffcec712..cc7ce7be8 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/sentence_transformers.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/embeddings/providers/sentence_transformers.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class SentenceTransformerEmbeddingModel(EmbeddingModel):
 
     def __init__(self, embedding_model: str, **kwargs):
         try:
-            from sentence_transformers import SentenceTransformer
+            from sentence_transformers import SentenceTransformer  # type: ignore
         except ImportError:
             raise ImportError(
                 "Could not import sentence-transformers, please install it with "
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def __init__(self, embedding_model: str, **kwargs):
             )
 
         try:
-            from torch import cuda
+            from torch import cuda  # type: ignore
         except ImportError:
             raise ImportError(
                 "Could not import torch, please install it with `pip install torch`."
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6be833997..b31308b9a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ pyright = "^1.1.405"
 include = [
   "nemoguardrails/rails/**",
   "nemoguardrails/actions/**",
+  "nemoguardrails/embeddings/**",
   "nemoguardrails/cli/**",
   "nemoguardrails/kb/**",
   "nemoguardrails/logging/**",