Connect with us

How-To

How to get an OpenAI API Key for ChatGPT and GPT-4

So you’re finally biting the bullet and want your own OpenAI API key? We’ll show you where and how to get it.

Openai k is an artificial intelligence system that is being used to automate tasks. Full text: openai k
Image: KnowTechie

Ready to catapult into tomorrow? Well, OpenAI has the keys, and they’re dangling them right in front of you – all you have to do is take them.

With access to OpenAI’s large language model (LLM), you can unlock the power of AI for your projects and businesses. All you need is an OpenAI API key.

Unlock AI superpowers with your very own OpenAI API key, empowering you to create chatbots, generate text, and so much more.

OpenAI is transforming the AI tech scene, turning once unthinkable into reality and unlocking a universe of potential.

If you’re itching to dive into the AI cosmos but aren’t sure how to get an OpenAI API key, you’re in the right place.

Keep scrolling as we decode the process – and give yourself a high-five for stepping into the future today.

Keep reading as we break everything down – and give yourself a pat on the back for stepping into tomorrow today. Now, let’s learn how to get your API key.

Open ai logo
Image: OpenAI

What is the OpenAI API?

First, let’s start with the obvious. What’s an API?

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is like a secret handshake that lets different applications seamlessly work together without knowing the code behind their inner workings.

Technical Answer (click to expand)

An API serves as an intermediary between applications, enabling them to share data and functionality without requiring the user to understand the underlying code or implementation.

By providing a standardized set of instructions, APIs make it easier for developers to integrate different software components and build more complex and feature-rich applications.

Using the API, developers can effortlessly integrate these powerful language models into their applications.

What Can You Do with an OpenAI API Key?

This image is demonstrating how to use programming languages to convert text, natural language, and data into different formats, such as standard english, programmatic commands, and emoji. Full text: q&a grammar correction answer questions based on existing corrects sentences into standard english. Knowledge. Summarize for a 2nd grader natural language to openai api translates difficult text into simpler create code to call to the openai api using concepts. A natural language instruction. Text to command english to other languages translate text into programmatic commands. Translates english text into french, spanish and japanese. Natural language to stripe api sql translate create code to call the stripe api using translate natural language to sql queries. Natural language. Parse unstructured data classification create tables from long form text. Classify items into categories via example. # python to natural language movie to emoji explain a piece of python code in human convert movie titles into emoji. Understandable language. L calculate time complexity translate programming languages find the time complexity of a function. Translate from one programming language to another.

With an OpenAI API key, you can access OpenAI’s platform’s artificial intelligence services, which currently includes the powerful GPT-3 and GPT-4 language model.

An OpenAI API key allows you to develop applications using OpenAI’s tech. Some things you can do with an OpenAI API key include the following:

  1. Text completion: Generate text that naturally continues a prompt or an intention in various contexts, such as trending topics, blog post ideas, or story building.
  2. Text summarization: Summarize long articles, emails, or documents into shorter, easily understandable texts.
  3. Sentiment analysis: Determine the sentiment of a given text as positive, negative, or neutral.
  4. Language translation: Translate text from one language to another.
  5. Text rewriting: Paraphrase or rewrite phrases, sentences, or paragraphs for improved clarity or new perspectives.
  6. Question-Answering systems: Develop chatbots or AI-powered Q&A systems that answer user queries accurately.
  7. Syntax and grammar checking: Improve an input text’s grammar and syntactical quality. 8. Content generation: Generate creative and informative output for articles, blog posts, social media updates, or marketing campaigns. 9.
  8. Code generation: Assist in generating code snippets or programming solutions based on specific instructions.
  9. Data extraction: Extract specific information from large datasets or unstructured texts.

These applications can help you automate tasks, improve creativity, and provide added benefits in fields like e-commerce, content creation, programming, education, and customer support.

How to create an OpenAI account and get a private API key

Ready to start using OpenAI’s unique models like ChatGPT and GPT-4? Then, you’ll need to generate your secret API key to access these services.

Getting an API key from OpenAI is a pretty straightforward process. Follow along, and we’ll show you how.

How to get an OpenAI API key

  1. If you haven’t already done so, head to the OpenAI website and sign up for an account with your name and email. You can also log in with an existing Google or Microsoft account.
  2. Once you’ve created an OpenAI API account, log in and navigate to the Dashboard.
This image is showing the different stages of learning how to use a chat-based language and generate or edit text and images. Full text: build an application chat beta text completion learn how to use chat-based language learn how to generate or edit text models embeddings speech to text beta learn how to search, classify, and compare learn how to turn audio into text text image generation beta fine-tuning learn how to generate or edit images learn how to train a model for your use case build a chatgpt plugin introduction alpha examples alpha learn the basics of building a chatgpt explore chatgpt plugin examples k plugin
  1. In the Dashboard, look for the API Keys section (usually located on the left side menu).
This image is showing the settings for an organization, including the organization name, usage rate limits, members, and billing information. Full text: overview documentation api reference examples playground organization organization settings [b knowtechie settings organization name human-friendly label for your organization, shown in user interfaces usage rate limits knowtechie members organization id billing identifier for this organization sometimes used in api requests user api keys save
  1. Click on this section and the “Create New Key” or “Generate” button.
This image is showing a list of secret api keys that have been generated for a user's account, along with instructions on how to use and protect them. Full text: overview documentation api reference examples playground organization api keys [i knowtechie settings your secret api keys are listed below. Please note that we do not display your secret api keys again usage after you generate them. Rate limits do not share your api key with others, or expose it in the browser or other client-side code. In order to protect the security of your account, openai may also automatically rotate any api key that we've members found has leaked publicly. Billing n user s api keys + create new secret key s + create new secret key

That’s it. Your unique API key should now be visible on your screen, along with any instructions for integrating it into your application or project.

Now that you have successfully obtained your API key, let’s move forward to learn how to find this secret key within your account whenever required.

Protip

Never share your API key. If people from your team need to use your access, separate API keys by making one for yourself and another for your team. 

Please note that while creating an account is free, using OpenAI’s models may come at a cost depending on their usage policies and pricing plans – make sure to check pricing details beforehand.

How to Find Your New Secret Key in Your OpenAI Account

Pat yourself on the back; you’ve made it this far.

Now that you’ve got your OpenAI account set up and ready to dive into the world of AI models. But first, let me help you find your secret API key.

Finding your OpenAI API key isn’t too tricky, but follow these simple steps to make sure you get it right:

  1. First, log in to your OpenAI account at OpenAI.com.
  2. Once logged in, navigate to the API Keys section by clicking on your username at the top-right corner and selecting “API Keys” from the drop-down menu.
In this image, people are being invited to join the openai platform and explore example tasks by building a quick sample app. Full text: overview documentation api reference examples playground help knowtechie join the chatgpt plugin developer waitlist sign up × welcome to the openai platform start with the basics quickstart tutorial examples learn by building a quick sample app explore some example tasks
  1. You’ll see a page listing different API keys available for various models like ChatGPT.
  2. Look for an entry labeled as “Secret Key” or something similar – that’s what we’re after.
The image is showing an example of an api key with a name, key, and secret key being displayed. Full text: api keys -- name key secret key sk -... Kiop
  1. To copy this key, click on the little clipboard icon next to it.
The image is showing an example of an api key and its associated secret key, which are used for authentication. Full text: api keys name key secret key sk -... Kiop

Now that you have successfully found and copied your secret API key, feel free to use it with various OpenAI models such as ChatGPT using appropriate SDKs or other tools available out there.

Remember: Keep this API key safe since others can misuse it if they get their hands on it

Is an OpenAI API Key Free?

The API key is free to get, but using it is another story.

Although the ChatGPT model is available at no cost during its research preview phase on chat.openai.com, this does not include API access.

When you create your OpenAI account and utilize its language models via the API, you must choose from one of their paid plans.

These plans cater to various usage levels and offer distinct features that can help enhance your projects.

Go and make cool stuff with your OpenAI API key

Chatgpt on laptop
Image: Pexels

Now that you’ve got your OpenAI API key, it’s time to dive into the world of AI-powered applications. Developers are using OpenAI’s models like ChatGPT to build creative and useful tools.

To help you make the most of your API key, let’s go through some initial steps in using the OpenAPI:

  1. Choose a model: OpenAI offers various models with different capabilities. Explore their documentation to find out which model suits your needs best.
  2. Read up on usage guidelines: Before starting, be sure to understand any limitations or guidelines surrounding the use of specific models.
  3. Prepare input data: Collect and prepare any necessary data for processing by the chosen model.
  4. Make API requests: Use your favorite programming language (Python is a popular choice) and follow example code provided in OpenAI’s documentation when making requests.
  5. Test and refine: Spend time testing different inputs, tweaking parameters, and refining results until you achieve your desired outcome.

Remember always to keep track of how many tokens are generated during each call, as billing depends on token usage.  

With persistence and creativity, you’ll soon be building exciting applications powered by cutting-edge AI technology from OpenAI.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

Follow us on Flipboard, Google News, or Apple News

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com or find him on Mastodon or Post.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TikTok wants to give you free money

Learn More

More in How-To