Using the OpenAI API with Python

Step 1: Setting Up the Environment

1. Install Python: Make sure you have Python 3.x installed. You can download it from the official website.
2. Set Up a Virtual Environment (optional but recommended):

   python3 -m venv openai-lab-env
   source openai-lab-env/bin/activate  # On Windows, use `openai-lab-env\Scripts\activate`
   

3. Install Necessary Packages:

   pip3 install openai requests
   

Step 2: Configuring API Credentials

1. Register on OpenAI:

2. Go to the OpenAI website and register to obtain API credentials.

3. Configure API Credentials:

4. Store your API credentials securely, possibly using environment variables. In your terminal, you can set it up using the following command (replace your_api_key_here with your actual API key):

   export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
   

Step 3: Making API Calls

1. Create a Python Script:

2. Create a new Python script (let’s name it openai_lab.py) and open it in a text editor.

3. Import Necessary Libraries:

   import openai
   openai.api_key = 'your_api_key_here'  # Alternatively, use the environment variable to store the API key
   

4. Make a Simple API Call:

    # Generate the AI response using the GPT-3.5 model (16k)
    # https://beta.openai.com/docs/api-reference/create-completion
    response = openai.ChatCompletion.create(
      model="gpt-3.5-turbo-16k",
      messages=prompt,
      max_tokens=15000
    )
   
    # print the AI response
    print(response.choices[0].message.content)
   

Step 4: Experimenting with the API

1. Experiment with Different Parameters:

2. Modify the max_tokens, temperature, and top_p parameters and observe how the responses change.

3. Handle API Responses:

   • Learn how to handle API responses and extract the required information.

Step 5: Building a Simple Application

1. Develop a Simple Application:

   • Create a more complex script that could function as a Q&A system or a content generation tool. You can use the "Article Generator" example we discussed during class for reference.

2. Testing Your Application:

   • Run various tests to ensure the functionality and robustness of your application.