OpenAI released its o1 model series a few months ago and these models are designed to offer more thoughtful responses, better handling of complex reasoning, and improved multistep workflows – making them perfect for everything from coding tasks to scientific reasoning.

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If you haven’t yet tried these models, it’s easier than you think to start. This week’s AI Lesson gives you a step-by-step guide on how to access and use OpenAI’s o1 models across five platforms.

Quick Guide to OpenAI’s o1 Models

OpenAI’s o1 models, o1-preview and o1-mini, were created with advanced reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Here’s what makes them unique:

• Enhanced Chain-of-Thought Reasoning: These models think through problems step-by-step.

• 128K Context Window: Handles large inputs with ease, though knowledge is limited to October 2023.

• Streamlined for Coding Tasks: These models shine in debugging and optimizing code.

• Cost-Effective Performance: o1-mini is optimized for quick responses at a lower cost.

5 Ways to Use OpenAI’s o1 Models

1. ChatGPT Web App

• Access: Available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users.

• How-to:

  1. Go to chat.openai.com or use the desktop app.

  2. Select o1-preview or o1-mini in the model picker.

  3. Start chatting with limits of 30 messages/week for o1-preview and 50 for o1-mini.

• Tip: Use Chain-of-Thought responses for detailed answers on complex tasks!

2. API Access

• Access: Available to OpenAI’s Tier 5 API users.

• How-to:

  1. Sign up for API access with Tier 5 usage.

  2. Install the OpenAI Python package: pip install openai

  3. Securely set your API key and start calling the model:

     python

     Copy code

     import openai openai.api_key = "your-api-key" response = openai.ChatCompletion.create( model="o1-preview", messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Explain AI in simple terms"}] ) print(response.choices[0].message.content)

• Ideal for: Direct API integration into applications for developers.

3. Cursor AI IDE

• Access: Download Cursor.

• How-to:

  1. Open Cursor AI and press CMD + L to start Cursor Chat.

  2. Choose o1-preview for real-time coding help.

  3. Use Cursor Compose (CMD + I) for applying edits across files simultaneously.

• Benefits: Instant coding suggestions and easy code adjustments.

4. ChatLLM by Abacus AI

• Access: Available through Abacus AI for a $10/month subscription.

• How-to:

  1. Log into ChatLLM by Abacus AI.

  2. Select OpenAI o1 in the LLM dashboard.

  3. Access chat, code generation, and chatbot creation all in one place.

• Why it’s useful: Centralized access to major AI models in a single platform.

5. VS Code with CodeGPT Extension

• Access: Install CodeGPT in VS Code.

• How-to:

  1. Install CodeGPT from the VS Code extensions marketplace.

  2. Set OpenAI as the provider, select o1-preview or o1-mini, and enter your API key.

• Perfect for: AI-powered coding assistance within your coding environment.

Extra Tips

• Explore Chain-of-Thought Summaries: o1 models’ reasoning approach is great for clear, structured responses.

• Join the OpenAI Community: Connect with other users for tips and ideas.

OpenAI’s o1 models open up powerful possibilities for coding, complex problem-solving, and smarter workflows. Now that you know five easy ways to get started, pick your platform and dive in! Try different queries, explore new use cases, and see how o1’s unique reasoning can help achieve your goals.

We’d love to hear your thoughts—let us know if you found this lesson helpful, and stay tuned for more AI Lessons!