How can I resolve the OPENAI_API_KEY configuration error in my OpenAI beta assistants Python client code?

Below is a list of common reasons and potential solutions for an openai.OpenAIError when using the beta assistants endpoints:

1. API Key and Environment

• Ensure your API key is valid:
  Make sure you’re using a valid API key and that it’s set before any client calls. For example:

  PYTHONCopied
  import openai
  
  openai.api_key = "sk-..."  # Use your actual API key
  client = openai.OpenAI()

• Beta Access:
  The endpoints you’re calling (e.g., assistants and threads) are in beta. Verify that your account has access to these beta features. Without proper enrollment, your requests can result in errors.

2. Correct Quote Usage

• Straight Quotes vs. Curly Quotes:
  In your code sample, the quotes around strings appear to be “curly” quotes (e.g., “Salesman” instead of "Salesman"). Python requires standard straight quotes. Replace curly quotes with straight ones:

  PYTHONCopied
  assistant = client.beta.assistants.create(
      name="Salesman",
      instructions="You are a salesman that sells villas in bali.",
      tools=[{"type": "code_interpreter"}],
      model="gpt-4-1106-preview"
  )

3. Required Beta Headers

• Beta Headers in REST Calls:
  When making REST API requests (as shown in the documentation’s curl examples), you need to include the beta header (e.g., -H "OpenAI-Beta: assistants=v2"). Although the Python client should handle this, double-check your client version and beta documentation to ensure that the necessary headers or configuration are applied.

4. Endpoint Stability

• Beta Endpoint Instability:
  Since you’re using beta endpoints, occasional errors are possible due to changes or instability. Keep an eye on OpenAI’s announcements regarding beta features and consider reaching out via your support channel if the error persists.

Example of Revised Code

Below is a revised version of your code with corrections:

PYTHONCopied
import openai
import time

# Set the API key before creating the client instance
openai.api_key = "sk-..."  # Replace with your valid API key

# Create the client instance
client = openai.OpenAI()

# Create the assistant with corrected quote usage
assistant = client.beta.assistants.create(
    name="Salesman",
    instructions="You are a salesman that sells villas in bali.",
    tools=[{"type": "code_interpreter"}],
    model="gpt-4-1106-preview"
)

# Create a thread for the conversation
thread = client.beta.threads.create()

# User asks a question
message = client.beta.threads.messages.create(
    thread_id=thread.id,
    role="user",
    content="what is the biggest and most expensive villa in bali"
)

# Run the conversation with additional instructions
run = client.beta.threads.runs.create(
    thread_id=thread.id,
    assistant_id=assistant.id,
    instructions="Please address the user as Maxi."
)

# Wait for the run to complete
time.sleep(20)

# Retrieve the run status
run_status = client.beta.threads.runs.retrieve(
    thread_id=thread.id,
    run_id=run.id
)

if run_status.status == "completed":
    messages = client.beta.threads.messages.list(
        thread_id=thread.id
    )
    # Display the conversation
    for msg in messages.data:
        role = msg.role
        # Assuming 'msg.content' follows the structure as in the docs
        content = msg.content[0].text.value
        print(f"{role.capitalize()}: {content}")

Summary

• Validate that your API key is correct and that beta features are enabled for your account.
• Replace any curly quotes with straight quotes.
• Ensure your client or HTTP requests include the required beta headers.
• Understand that beta endpoints may have intermittent issues.

If after these corrections you still encounter the error, please provide the exact error message (without sensitive data) so that further troubleshooting steps can be recommended.