OpenAI

AI models for text generation, embeddings, image generation, speech-to-text, and more

OpenAI's API provides access to GPT-4o, GPT-4, GPT-3.5 Turbo, DALL-E 3, Whisper, TTS, and embedding models. The API covers text generation, chat completion, image generation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, moderation, and vector embeddings. It's the most widely used AI API and the backbone of countless AI applications. For OpenClaw agents, OpenAI is one of the primary model providers. OpenClaw can route to OpenAI for chat completions, use DALL-E for image generation, Whisper for transcription, and TTS for voice output. It's often the default provider for new OpenClaw setups due to its broad capability coverage and strong tool-use support.

Tags: ml, ai, ai-models, nlp

Category: Machine Learning

Use Cases

  • Primary LLM provider for OpenClaw chat completions and tool use
  • Generate images with DALL-E 3 via OpenClaw's image generation skill
  • Transcribe audio with Whisper and generate speech with TTS models

Tips

  • Use GPT-4o-mini as default model and escalate to GPT-4o only when reasoning quality matters
  • Set up usage limits in the OpenAI dashboard to prevent unexpected bills
  • Use structured outputs (response_format: json_schema) for reliable parsing in automation skills

Known Issues & Gotchas

  • No free tier — you must add payment method and fund your account
  • Rate limits are tiered based on cumulative spending — new accounts start at Tier 1
  • API keys are organization-scoped — be careful with multi-project setups

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OpenAI the best provider for OpenClaw?

It depends on your use case. OpenAI has the broadest model range and best tool-use support. Anthropic's Claude excels at coding and long-context tasks. Google Gemini offers competitive pricing. Most users start with OpenAI and add others as needed.

What's the cheapest way to use OpenAI with OpenClaw?

Use GPT-4o-mini ($0.15/1M input tokens) for routine tasks and reserve GPT-4o for complex reasoning. The mini model handles most agent tasks well at 1/16th the cost of GPT-4o.

Does OpenClaw support all OpenAI models?

Yes. OpenClaw supports GPT-4o, GPT-4o-mini, GPT-4 Turbo, o1, o3-mini, and legacy models through the OpenAI provider configuration. Image generation, TTS, and Whisper are also supported via skills.