OpenAI ChatGPT¶

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About OpenAI and ChatGPT¶

OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research company founded in 2015, known for developing some of the most influential AI models in recent years. Their flagship product, ChatGPT, launched in November 2022 and quickly became the fastest-growing consumer application in history.

ChatGPT is powered by a family of large language models (LLMs) spanning flagship multimodal models, cost-efficient variants, and frontier reasoning models. These models can understand and generate human-like text, analyze images, write code, and assist with a wide range of tasks. For the current lineup, see OpenAI's models page.

Creating a ChatGPT Account¶

Log In to Your Account

• Visit chatgpt.com and log in using your existing credentials or create a new account.

Access Account Settings:

• Once logged in, look for the sidebar (usually on the left).
• Click on the "Upgrade to Plus" or "Manage my plan" button.
  • If you do not see this option, try refreshing the page or updating your browser.

Initiate Upgrade:

• Click "Upgrade to Plus" (\(20/mo) or one of the Pro tiers (\)100, $200, or $500/mo).
• A pricing page will appear with current subscription options.

Enter Payment Information:

• Provide the required billing details.
• Review the payment terms and confirm your subscription.

Confirmation and Billing Cycle:

• After completing the payment process, you will receive a confirmation email.
• Your Plus account should be active immediately.
• You can now enjoy features like priority access, faster response times, and the latest model updates.

ChatGPT Subscription Plans¶

Using ChatGPT¶

Web Interface (chatgpt.com):

• Prompting: Type your requests or questions into the chat box. Be clear and specific in your prompts.
• Conversation History: ChatGPT remembers context within the current chat session.
• Model Selection: Plus and Pro users can switch between models (flagship multimodal, reasoning-focused, etc.) using the model selector.
• File Uploads: Upload images, PDFs, documents, and data files for analysis.
• Voice Mode: Use voice input and receive spoken responses (Plus feature).
• Canvas: Collaborative editing workspace for writing and coding projects.

Custom GPTs and plugins:

• Custom GPTs are being retired in favor of plugins — Enterprise workspaces first (December 2026), with consumer plans expected to follow (verify). Existing GPTs and the GPT Store still work for now.
• Plugins (since July 2026) bundle skills, apps, and MCP servers into one installable package; browse them in the Plugin Directory.
• Use Cases: Research assistants, writing helpers, coding tutors, language learning, and more.

Advanced Features:

• Web Browsing: Search the internet for current information (enabled by default for Plus users).
• Data analysis (sandboxed Python): Run Python code, analyze data, create visualizations, and process files in a browser-based sandbox.
• GPT Image 1.5 / 2: Generate and edit images from text descriptions (DALL-E 3 was sunset May 2026).
• Advanced Voice: Natural, conversational voice interactions with low latency.
• Codex: agentic coding in the cloud, terminal, and VS Code — included in every plan (limited on Free/Go).
• Deep research (Plus and above): multi-step web research that returns a cited report.

OpenAI Platform and API¶

Beyond ChatGPT, OpenAI provides a developer platform for programmatic access to their AI models.

OpenAI Platform allows developers to access the API and integrate powerful AI models into custom applications or systems.

OpenAI API Access¶

The OpenAI API provides programmatic access to OpenAI's full model lineup — including flagship multimodal, cost-efficient, and frontier reasoning models, plus image and audio models — enabling integration into applications and research workflows. See OpenAI's models page for the current lineup.

Signing up for the OpenAI API:

1. Open the OpenAI Platform: Go to platform.openai.com.

2. Sign up or Log in:

   • Sign up: If you don't have an OpenAI account, create one. You can reuse your ChatGPT account credentials.
   • Log in: If you already have an account, log in.

Creating API Keys:

1. Navigate to the API Keys page: Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner and select "API keys."

2. Create a new API key: Click on "Create new secret key."

3. Name your key (optional): Give it a descriptive name for tracking purposes.

4. Copy and securely store your API key: Important: You will not be able to view the full API key again. Store it in a password manager or a secure environment variable.

Using the OpenAI API¶

Quick Start (Python):

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(api_key="your-api-key")

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-6-sol",  # or "gpt-6-luna" for cheap tasks; model names change — check https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Hello, GPT!"}
    ]
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Available SDKs: Python, Node.js/TypeScript, and community libraries for other languages.

Developer Resources:

• Documentation: Visit the OpenAI API Documentation for guidance, code examples, and model parameters.

• Pricing: Review the OpenAI API Pricing page for cost details, which are based on tokens processed.

• Rate Limits: Familiarize yourself with API rate limits to prevent disruptions.

• Playground: OpenAI Playground allows you to experiment with models for Chat, Text Completion, Image generation, Embedding, Speech-to-Text, and Fine Tuning.

OpenAI Cookbook¶

Check out the openai/openai-cookbook repository for Jupyter Notebook lessons and examples on using the OpenAI API.

The cookbook is also available at cookbook.openai.com.

Tips for Using ChatGPT¶

• Be Specific: Provide clear instructions and context in your prompts for better results.
• Iterate: Refine your prompts based on ChatGPT's responses to improve outcomes.
• Use System Instructions: For custom GPTs or API usage, system prompts guide the model's behavior.
• Leverage Context: Upload relevant documents or provide background information for complex tasks.
• Experiment with Models: Different models excel at different tasks — frontier reasoning models for complex problem-solving, flagship multimodal models for general use, and image/audio models for specialized media tasks.

Additional Resources¶

OpenAI Official Resources:

• OpenAI Website: openai.com
• ChatGPT: chatgpt.com
• API Documentation: platform.openai.com/docs
• OpenAI Research: openai.com/research
• Developer Forum: community.openai.com

Research and Technical Papers:

• GPT-4 Technical Report: arxiv.org/abs/2303.08774
• OpenAI Publications: openai.com/research/index/publication

Privacy and Security:

• Review OpenAI's Privacy Policy and ensure compliance with your institution's guidelines.
• Teaching Resources: Some institutions have specific guidance on using AI tools in education. Check your local teaching center or ask your institution's IT or library services.

Next Steps:

• After setting up your account, proceed to the Writing Prompts section for hands-on prompt engineering exercises and best practices.
• Explore Choosing the Right AI Platform to compare ChatGPT with Claude, Gemini, and other options.