OpenAI Tutorial #2 - Chat Completion

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use OpenAI's chat completion feature to create a simple application that generates text similar to ChatGPT. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you understand the process and implement it effectively.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

Before you start coding, ensure you have the necessary tools and resources.

• Install Node.js: Download and install Node.js from the official website.
• Set Up a Code Editor: Use Visual Studio Code for an optimal coding experience. Download it from here.
• Create a New Project: Open your terminal or command prompt and run the following commands:

  mkdir chat-completion-app
  cd chat-completion-app
  npm init -y
  

Step 2: Install OpenAI SDK

To interact with the OpenAI API, you need to install the OpenAI SDK.

• Run the following command in your terminal:

  npm install openai
  

Step 3: Set Up Your API Key

You will need an API key from OpenAI to authenticate your requests.

• Get Your API Key: Sign up or log in to your OpenAI account and navigate to the API section to create a new key.
• Store Your API Key: Create a .env file in your project directory and add your API key:

  OPENAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
  

Step 4: Create a Basic Chat Completion Script

Now, you will write a script to send a prompt to the OpenAI API and receive a response.

• Create a file named chat.js and add the following code:

  require('dotenv').config();
  const { Configuration, OpenAIApi } = require('openai');
  
  const configuration = new Configuration({
      apiKey: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY,
  });
  const openai = new OpenAIApi(configuration);
  
  async function getChatResponse(prompt) {
      const response = await openai.createChatCompletion({
          model: "gpt-3.5-turbo",
          messages: [{ role: "user", content: prompt }],
      });
      return response.data.choices[0].message.content;
  }
  
  getChatResponse("Hello, how can I use OpenAI?")
      .then(console.log)
      .catch(console.error);
  

Step 5: Run Your Application

Execute your script to see the chat completion in action.

• In your terminal, run the following command:

  node chat.js
  

• You should see the AI's response in the terminal.

Step 6: Customize the Application

Feel free to modify the prompt to see how the model responds to different queries.

• Experiment with various prompts to test the text generation capabilities.
• You can also implement a user interface using HTML/CSS if you want to expand the application further.

Conclusion

You have successfully created a simple chat application using OpenAI's chat completion feature. You've learned how to set up your environment, install the necessary tools, and write a script that interacts with the OpenAI API.

Next steps could include enhancing the application with a user interface or integrating it into a larger project. Happy coding!