Project 42Start learning
Module 2 of 6 · 18 min

OpenAI in Practice

Understand conversational, API, and Codex workflows without conflating them.

OpenAI

By the end

You will be able to

  • Separate ChatGPT, API, and Codex use cases.
  • Design around tools and structured outputs.
  • Verify current models and platform behavior.
01

Match the product surface to the job

Conversational products support direct knowledge work, APIs integrate model behavior into software, and coding agents work across repositories and development tools.

Authentication, data controls, billing, and tool availability vary across these surfaces.

02

Applications need contracts

When software consumes model output, use structured contracts, validation, retries, and observable failure behavior instead of parsing unconstrained prose.

Evidence

Sources and verification

Knowledge check

Make it stick.

Pass at 80%

Choose the strongest answer for each question. Your attempts become part of your device-local transcript.

01What is the safest way for software to consume model output?
02Why distinguish ChatGPT, API, and Codex workflows?