What does an OpenAI key unlock in BackTalk?

It scores and categorises every new mention with GPT (AI sentiment, category, and priority) instead of the free offline scorer, and re-scores existing mentions once.

How much does it cost?

You're billed by OpenAI at their token rates with no markup. GPT-5.4 nano (~$0.20/$1.25 per million input/output tokens) is the recommended, cheapest default for sentiment.

Why was my OpenAI key rejected?

Usually the OpenAI account has no billing credit, or the key is project-scoped without model access. Add credit or create a fresh key and re-paste.

Is my API key stored securely?

Your key is encrypted at rest and only decrypted server-side at the moment it's used. The plaintext never reaches your browser and is never logged. Settings shows only a masked hint.

OpenAI (ChatGPT) key

Bring your own OpenAI key to score and categorise mentions with GPT. Without an AI key, BackTalk uses a free offline word-list scorer; a GPT key upgrades every new signal to AI sentiment, categories, and priority.

What it unlocks

AI sentiment (positive / neutral / negative) instead of the offline lexicon.
Category and priority tagging on each mention.
A one-time background re-score of your existing mentions when you save the key.

Your workspace runs on one AI key at a time. Saving a GPT key replaces whichever provider was active before.

Get your API key

Sign in to the OpenAI Platform.
Add a payment method under Billing. API access is separate from a ChatGPT Plus subscription and needs its own credit.
Open API keys and choose Create new secret key.
Copy the key. New keys start with sk-proj-… (older ones, sk-…) and it's shown only once.

Add it in BackTalk

Go to Settings and find the ChatGPT (OpenAI) card under AI providers.
Pick a model (see below) and paste your sk-proj-… key.
Save. BackTalk sends one tiny test request to confirm the key and model, then stores the key encrypted and starts the background re-score.

Models & cost

Billed by OpenAI directly at their token rates, with no markup from BackTalk. Sentiment prompts are short, so cost per mention is usually a fraction of a cent. List prices (USD per million input / output tokens):

GPT-5.4 nano: ~$0.20 / $1.25. Fastest and cheapest; the right default for sentiment.
GPT-5.4: ~$2.50 / $15. More nuance.
GPT-5.5: ~$5 / $30. Most capable; rarely needed just for scoring.

Troubleshooting

"The provider rejected that API key." Wrong, revoked, or project-scoped key that lacks model access. Create a fresh key and re-paste.
"That model isn't available on this key." Your account/project can't use that model. Add billing or pick GPT-5.4 nano.
Key check failed. Most often no billing credit on the OpenAI account. Add credit, then retry.

Your key stays private. It's encrypted at rest and only decrypted server-side when a scoring call runs. It is never returned to your browser and never logged. Settings shows only a masked hint.

Rotating your key: create a new key in the OpenAI Platform, paste it into Settings to replace the old one, then revoke the previous key.