First interaction with GenAI APIs - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a GenAI API?

A GenAI API is a service that lets you send text or data to a smart computer model that can generate answers, stories, or other content automatically.

beginner

Why do we need an API key when using GenAI APIs?

An API key is like a password that lets you use the GenAI service safely and tracks your usage to prevent misuse.

beginner

What is the typical first step when calling a GenAI API?

The first step is to send a request with your input text or prompt to the API endpoint, including your API key for access.

beginner

What kind of response do you get from a GenAI API?

You get a response containing generated text or content based on your input, often in a structured format like JSON.

beginner

Name one common use case for GenAI APIs.

One common use case is generating creative writing, like stories or poems, based on a short prompt you provide.

What do you need to include in your request to a GenAI API to authenticate yourself?

A API key

B Username only

C Password only

D No authentication needed

You must include an API key to authenticate and access the GenAI API.

What format is the response from a GenAI API usually in?

A JSON

B Plain text only

C XML only

D Binary data

GenAI APIs typically return responses in JSON format for easy parsing.

Which of these is a typical first step when using a GenAI API?

A Train the model yourself

B Download the model to your computer

C Create a database

D Send a prompt to the API endpoint

You start by sending a prompt to the API endpoint to get generated content.

Why is it important to keep your API key secret?

A To reduce the size of the response

B To prevent others from using your quota

C To improve the model's accuracy

D To make your code run faster

Keeping your API key secret prevents unauthorized use of your account and quota.

Which of these is NOT a common use of GenAI APIs?

A Generating text content

B Creating images from text

C Running a web server

D Answering questions

Running a web server is not a function of GenAI APIs.

Describe the basic steps you take when making your first call to a GenAI API.

Think about what you need before and after sending your input.

Explain why authentication is important when using GenAI APIs.

Consider what could happen if anyone could use the API without restrictions.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a GenAI API when you first interact with it?

easy

A. To train a new AI model from scratch

B. To store large datasets for AI training

C. To manually code AI algorithms

D. To send a prompt and receive a text response from the AI model

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what GenAI APIs do

   GenAI APIs let you send a prompt (a question or task) to an AI model.

2. Step 2: Identify the response from the API

   The API returns a text response generated by the AI based on your prompt.

3. Final Answer:

   To send a prompt and receive a text response from the AI model -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   GenAI API = prompt in, text out [OK]

Hint: GenAI APIs take your question and give text answers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking you train the AI on first use
• Believing you write AI code manually
• Confusing API with data storage

2. Which of the following is the correct way to send a prompt to a GenAI API in Python?

easy

A. response = genai.ask(prompt)

B. response = genai.ask('Hello AI!')

C. response = genai.ask(prompt='Hello AI!')

D. response = genai.ask(input='Hello AI!')

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the correct parameter name for prompt

   The GenAI API expects the prompt to be passed with the keyword 'prompt'.

2. Step 2: Verify the syntax for calling the API

   Using named argument prompt='Hello AI!' matches the expected syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   response = genai.ask(prompt='Hello AI!') -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use prompt= keyword to send text [OK]

Hint: Use prompt='text' when calling genai.ask() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting the prompt= keyword
• Using wrong parameter name like input=
• Passing variable without quotes when string needed

3. Given the code below, what will be printed?

response = genai.ask(prompt='What is 2 + 2?')
print(response.text)

medium

A. '4'

B. 'What is 2 + 2?'

C. An error because response has no attribute text

D. '2 + 2 equals 4'

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the prompt sent to the AI

   The prompt asks the AI a simple math question: 'What is 2 + 2?'.

2. Step 2: Predict the AI's text response

   The AI will respond with the answer '4' as text, accessible via response.text.

3. Final Answer:

   '4' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Simple math prompt returns answer text [OK]

Hint: AI answers math questions with the result as text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting the prompt text to be printed
• Assuming response.text does not exist
• Thinking AI returns full sentence instead of just answer

4. You wrote this code but get an error:

response = genai.ask('Hello AI!')
print(response.text)

What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The print statement is incorrect

B. The prompt argument is missing its keyword name

C. The genai.ask function does not exist

D. response.text is not a valid attribute

Solution

1. Step 1: Check how the prompt is passed to genai.ask()

   The code passes 'Hello AI!' without specifying prompt= keyword.

2. Step 2: Understand the API expects prompt= keyword

   Without prompt=, the function may raise an error or not recognize the input.

3. Final Answer:

   The prompt argument is missing its keyword name -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Always use prompt= when calling genai.ask() [OK]

Hint: Always name the prompt argument: prompt='text' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing prompt as positional argument
• Assuming print statement causes error
• Thinking response.text is invalid

5. You want to use a GenAI API to get a short story about a cat. Which approach is best to get a clear, useful response?

hard

A. Send prompt='Write a short story about a cat in 3 sentences.'

B. Send prompt='cat story'

C. Send prompt='Tell me something interesting.'

D. Send prompt='Write a story'

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the prompt that clearly states the task

   Send prompt='Write a short story about a cat in 3 sentences.' specifies the topic (cat), the type (short story), and length (3 sentences).

2. Step 2: Compare other prompts for clarity

   Options B, C, and D are vague and may produce unrelated or too long responses.

3. Final Answer:

   Send prompt='Write a short story about a cat in 3 sentences.' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Clear, detailed prompts get better AI answers [OK]

Hint: Be specific and clear in your prompt for best results [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using too short or vague prompts
• Not specifying length or topic clearly
• Expecting AI to guess details