How To Use the OpenAI Actions in Power Automate Using a Free Open AI Account

Jon Manderville
November 17, 2023

Introduction

In the evolving world of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's ChatGPT stands out as a remarkable tool for a wide range of applications. Whether you're a developer, researcher, or just an AI enthusiast, accessing ChatGPT via OpenAI's API can unlock a plethora of possibilities. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a basic OpenAI account, including how to make the most of the free trial offer.

Step 1: Sign Up for an OpenAI Account

  1. Visit the OpenAI Website: Go to OpenAI's official website.
  2. Create an Account: Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button usually located at the top right corner of the page.
  3. Fill in Your Details: Provide your email address, create a password, and follow the prompts to complete your account setup.

Step 2: Exploring the Dashboard

  1. Dashboard Overview: Once logged in, if you click the API option, you'll be directed to the OpenAI dashboard. If you hover over the left hand side, you'll see a pop out with various resources and information about OpenAI’s products and services in the left nav bar.
  2. API Section: Navigate to the API Keys section to set up secret keys that you can use to  integrate OpenAI’s models into your applications. (we wont go into how here, that is the job of the challenges or courses that you may be following. We want to show how to set up a key specifically).  You can make and retrieve keys from this location for use in tools such as Power Automate

Step 3: API Keys and Access

To use the new OpenAI Actions from Power Automate, you will need a Secret key. Here's how you can create one:

  1. Generating an API Key: In the API Key section, look for an option to Create new API key. This key is crucial for accessing the OpenAI API.
  2. Save Your API Key: Perhaps consider storing your API key in a secure location. Once you have it created here, you will only get one chance to copy it down. This key will be used to authenticate your API requests.

Step 4: Understanding the Free Trial Offer

OpenAI provides a free trial offer to new users, allowing you to experiment with the API without any initial cost.

  1. Free Credits: Upon signing up, your account is credited with a certain amount of free usage (the specific amount can vary and should be confirmed on OpenAI’s pricing page).
  2. Usage Limitations: Be aware of the limitations on the free trial. This includes usage caps, which, once exceeded, will require you to opt for a paid plan.

Step 5: Making Your First API Call

  1. Documentation: Before making your first API call, read through OpenAI’s documentation to understand the API’s capabilities and limitations.
  2. Use the Power Automate action : Utilize the action and complete the simple process to connect it to your Open AI account via an API. Once you have done this once, all other calls using this action can use the same 'authenticated' action. 

What Next?

Getting started with OpenAI and accessing ChatGPT via its API is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can quickly set up your account, understand the free trial offer, and begin exploring the exciting capabilities of ChatGPT.

Remember to keep your API key secure and monitor your usage to make the most out of the free trial period.

Time to get started, why not try this process and then call open AI from within Power Automate. You'll be blow away by what you can achieve. 

Stuck for ideas? Sign up for our Power Automate success path and during the AI pathfinder, you will explore how to use AI to help you build and also get answers directly into your workflow without complex rule sets and actions. 

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