OpenAI introduces a ChatGPT API for developers

Expect to see the widely popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, integrated into a growing number of your favorite apps and tools. OpenAI, the company behind the chatbot, has introduced a new API, granting developers access to ChatGPT's capabilities.

OpenAI has also launched an API for Whisper, the speech-to-text model that the AI research company open-sourced in September 2022.

Also: How does ChatGPT work?

A number of major companies, including Snapchat, Instacart, and Shopify, are already utilizing the ChatGPT API, according to OpenAI.

Instacart plans to use the conversational AI technology to assist customers in creating shopping lists based on their open-ended questions, such as "What's a healthy lunch for my kids?" Meanwhile, Shopify will integrate ChatGPT technology into Shop, its consumer app that helps shoppers discover different products and brands. Additionally, the learning platform Quizlet is utilizing the ChatGPT API to power an AI tutor.

The ChatGPT API provides access to GPT 3.5 Turbo, the same model used in the ChatGPT product.

"ChatGPT API users can expect continuous model improvements and have the option to choose dedicated capacity for greater control over the models," stated OpenAI in a blog post.

OpenAI also clarified that data submitted through the API will no longer be utilized to train and enhance OpenAI's models unless the organization using the API opts to contribute data. This should give reassurance to consumers who are concerned about their data being used to strengthen AI models without their consent.

OpenAI is implementing a default 30-day data retention policy for API users, with options for stricter retention based on user needs.

Finally, the company announced that its current top engineering priority is to improve the stability of its products.

"For the past two months, our uptime has not met our own expectations or those of our users," the company explained.