ChatGPT API: How to Add AI Features to Your App and Security Considerations to Keep in Mind

Key takeaways

ChatGPT’s application programming interface (API) is a way to integrate the LLM’s functionality into your application or website.  

• The ChatGPT API allows developers to implement the LLM’s features into their app, website, product, or service code.   

• OpenAI allows developers to either select from pre-built elements or build their own. 

• Using ChatGPT API requires an OpenAI account and the purchase of tokens, among other steps. 

Learn more about how to use ChatGPT API if you’re interested in gaining the benefits of a popular model without having to build your own. Afterward, learn how to build multi-step systems using LLMs with DeepLearning.AI’s project Building Systems with the ChatGPT API.

What is ChatGPT API? 

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are code-based instructions written so two systems can interact with each other. Businesses with unique technology often have an API available so other businesses can integrate it into their applications, websites, products, or services rather than investing significant resources into building the technology themselves. 

ChatGPT API allows front-end and back-end developers to integrate ChatGPT’s functionality directly into their project, so users gain features like a customer service chatbot or content generator dressed in that project’s specific UI design. 

An example of ChatGPT API in action

If an e-commerce site were to integrate the ChatGPT, here’s what it would look like: 

• The site’s look: A shopping website with the company’s logo and design

• The site’s function: ChatGPT providing automated customer support via a chatbot

• The user sees: A chat widget that matches your site's aesthetic, but gives intelligent responses

How much does ChatGPT API cost?

Working with the ChatGPT API requires you to purchase tokens, which are units of text used to process requests your users will make as they engage with any AI feature you add to your app. 

Tokens are pieces of words, punctuation, and spaces. For OpenAI, one token typically equals four characters, but this can vary model to model [1]. For example: “ChatGPT” has three tokens for GPT-3.5 and GPT-4: “Chat,” “G” and “PT.”

The price for tokens will depend on the model you intend to use, with more advanced models costing more for a set 1M tokens, and how many tokens you anticipate needing. OpenAI charges different rates for inputs, cached inputs, and outputs. 

For 1M tokens, GPT-5.2 costs:

• $1.750 for input tokens  

• $0.175 for cached input tokens 

• $14.000 for output tokens [2]

What can the ChatGPT API do?

ChatGPT has several features you can integrate via its API, including: 

• Answering questions and automating responses 

• Generating written content

• Translating 

• Summarizing and editing text

• Creating and modifying programming code

Some common uses for the ChatGPT API include: 

• Customer support chatbots: Integrate the ChatGPT API to handle customer inquiries

• Content generation: Use the ChatGPT API for automated content creation

• Code review assistant: Implement the ChatGPT API for code analysis and suggestions

• Educational tools: Build learning applications powered by the ChatGPT API

What do you need to use the ChatGPT API?

There are certain requirements you’ll need to meet before you can fully integrate the ChatGPT API into your code. 

1. Create an OpenAI account.

You’ll first need to create an OpenAI account. Once you’ve completed that step, toggle the left navigation menu, and select either “For Business” or “For Developers” to purchase API access. 

2. Generate an API key from OpenAI. 

Once you have API access, navigate to the API section and generate your unique ChatGPT API key. Store this securely as you won’t be able to re-generate it if you lose it, though you can delete it and request a new one. 

3. Install the required dependency.

Working with APIs requires basic programming. Before your app can communicate with ChatGPT, you’ll need to install the required dependency—OpenAI’s external code library—into your project. 

The OpenAI library includes: 

• Authentication handling

• Request formatting for ChatGPT API

• Response parsing

• Error handling classes

• Rate limiting helpers

• Token counting utilities 

The command you’ll use to install OpenAI’s library depends on your programming language. Some of the more popular examples are:  

• Python: pip install openai

• Javascript: npm install openai

• PHP: composer require orhanerday/open-ai

• Java: # Add dependency to pom.xml, then: mvn install

4. Finish implementation. 

You’ll need to set up authentication by adding the API key you generated to your project, proving you have permission to use ChatGPT. This should be stored securely so it remains hidden from users and anyone else who might come across your source code. 

After that, you’ll need to write the connection code and integrate it into your app logic. This includes creating functions that can send messages to ChatGPT and receive responses, determining where your users will interact with AI features, connecting ChatGPT’s responses to your user interface, and adjusting parameters to control creativity and limit response length. 

Security considerations for using ChatGPT API 

All generative AI should be used cautiously and that includes the ChatGPT API. As you weigh whether to use it for your app or website, keep the following security considerations in mind: 

Never expose your API key in client-side code

Keep your API key on your server, rather than in your browser code, because anyone can view and steal keys from websites, potentially racking up charges on your account.

Implement authentication for your application

Consider adding a user login or access controls to your AI features so only authorized people can use your ChatGPT integration and generate costs.

Use environment variables for sensitive configuration

Store your API key in secure configuration files rather than directly in your code so they stay protected even if someone sees your source code.

Monitor API usage to detect unusual activity

Regularly check your OpenAI usage dashboard for unexpected spikes in requests or costs that might indicate someone is misusing your API access.

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