Is OpenAI's Playground Part of the API or a Non-API Consumer Service?

Below is a concise explanation:

• Playground as an API Interface
  The Playground is designed as a tool for exploring and experimenting with the API. Even though it provides a user-friendly interface, the requests you send through the Playground are processed by API endpoints. This means that the Playground is treated as part of the API, not as a “non-API consumer service” (like ChatGPT or DALL·E).

• Data Use Policy Implications
  Since the Playground uses the API, the data you input there is subject to the API data usage policy. Specifically, as stated in the API documentation, data sent to the API (including via the Playground) is not used to train or improve OpenAI's models unless you explicitly opt in. This is distinct from non-API consumer services, which follow different data usage guidelines.

• What This Means for You
  If you are using the Playground, the information you enter will be handled according to the API's data use terms. The data is retained under specified conditions (such as a retention period to detect abuse) but will not be used to enhance model performance unless opted in.

For further details on data handling and retention, you might refer to OpenAI’s API documentation and data privacy pages.