## Connection

When you're setting up your first workflow with ChatGPT, you'll need to create an OpenAI **API Key**.

To create an API Key, go to this url: [https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys](https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys). Once there, click on the **Create new secret key** button.

Then, click on the copy button in the **API key generated** modal. Paste the copied values into MESA's ChatGPT Account Connections **API Key** field.

Lastly, click on **Add Connection** and then you are all set! MESA is now connected with ChatGPT.

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### Configuration

#### Following OpenAI's Usage Policies

Please ensure that you follow OpenAI's Usage Policies when using MESA's ChatGPT integration: [https://openai.com/policies/usage-policies](https://openai.com/policies/usage-policies)

#### ShopPad's Recommendation

We recommend using OpenAI's [playground](https://platform.openai.com/playground) when testing with MESA's **Create Chat Completion** actions. This allows you to try different models and prompts and will estimate the token cost for each automation.

As ChatGPT is not our product, we would like to note that we are not responsible for its output. We recommend visiting the ChatGPT website and attempt to replicate your preferred prompt using the CHATGPT UI to verify that it meets your expectation before trying to automate it with MESA.

### How ChatGPT Uses Your Data

The ChatGPT app makes API calls to OpenAI. Only the variables explicitly configured in the MESA builder will be shared with OpenAI. MESA does not store any of this information beyond your data retention date. OpenAI does not use data submitted to and generated by their API to train OpenAI models or improve OpenAI's service offering.

To opt out of any data sharing with AI models, simply do not use the ChatGPT step in any of your workflows.

[Learn more](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/5722486-how-your-data-is-used-to-improve-model-performance) about how and when OpenAI uses use to train their models. Read [MESA's Data Processing Agreement](/content/dpa/index.html).