OpenAI API Client AI Skill Guide (Claude)

Overview & Engine Architecture

Official OpenAI Python/TS SDKs call HTTP APIs for text, tools, embeddings, and media. Prefer the Responses API for new work (agentic tools, simpler multi-turn, better cache behavior); Chat Completions remains supported for existing integrations. Auth via OPENAI_API_KEY (or Azure/base_url overrides). Pin model ids, set timeouts, bound max output tokens, validate tool calls, and treat store as a privacy control (Responses defaults can retain application state ~30 days unless store=false or org ZDR).