OpenAI API Course: Python, Models, Errors & Spend Control
OpenAI API Course: Python, Models, Errors & Spend Control, Master the OpenAI API in 6 hours: set up keys, pick models, send requests, handle errors, and control spend with Python..
Course Description
This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.
Most people use AI through a chat window. This course shows you how to put the same power inside your own code, safely, reliably, and without surprise bills.
Who this course is for
- Beginners and developers who want to use the OpenAI API in real projects
- Freelancers and agency owners who want to build AI features for clients
- Product managers and founders who need to understand what the API can do and cost
- Automation builders who want to move past no-code limits
- Students building a portfolio project with AI
What you will learn
- What the OpenAI API is and how it differs from ChatGPT
- How to create an account, set budget limits, and protect your API key
- How to make your first authenticated API call in Python
- How to compare models using your own test prompts, not guesswork
- How to choose the cheapest model that meets your quality bar
- How to write instructions and inputs that produce consistent output
- How to control response length and cost with token limits
- How to read responses, usage data, and response IDs
- How to handle 401, 400, 429, and 5xx errors with retries and backoff
- How to track spend per request and set a daily cost cap
Requirements
- Basic Python is helpful, but all code is provided and explained
- A computer with Python installed
- An OpenAI platform account (API usage is billed separately; a small budget is enough for the course)
Final project
You will build the Smart Reply Assistant, a command-line tool that classifies a customer message, drafts a reply in structured JSON, logs tokens and cost for every request, retries safely on errors, and stops when a daily spending cap is reached. You also get a rubric to grade your own work.
