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Production StackAI Requirements

What cloud provider administrators need before enabling StackAI in a production CMP deployment.

Beta

StackAI is in beta. Confirm with StackConsole which StackAI features are enabled on your deployment and where to enter provider credentials in CMP.

StackAI uses the OpenAI API for natural-language planning and replies. For production, use your own OpenAI organization account with billing enabled — do not rely on shared or trial keys that can hit limits without warning.

This page covers OpenAI account setup and API key creation. End-user behaviour is documented in the StackAI User Guide.

Before you begin​

RequirementDetail
OpenAI accountOrganization owner or admin access at platform.openai.com
BillingPayment method on file — pay-as-you-go or prepaid credits
API keySecret key created for this deployment (starts with sk-)
Usage controlsRecommended: monthly budget or usage limit in OpenAI billing settings
Production billing

Without active billing, OpenAI may stop API calls when credits run out. Prepaid credits or a monthly budget alert reduces the risk of StackAI going offline unexpectedly during customer use.

How to purchase and create an API key​

1. Create or sign in to an OpenAI account​

  1. Go to https://platform.openai.com.
  2. Sign up for a new account or log in with your existing credentials.
  3. Complete any organization verification OpenAI requires for your region.

2. Set up billing​

  1. Open Organization → Billing (or Settings → Billing, depending on the OpenAI UI).
  2. Add a payment method.
  3. Choose one of:
    • Pay-as-you-go — billed for actual token usage each cycle.
    • Prepaid credits — recommended for production so usage does not stop unexpectedly when a soft limit is reached.
  4. Optional but recommended: set a monthly budget or usage limit under billing settings so you get alerts before spend grows beyond plan.

3. Create an API key​

  1. Open API keys in the OpenAI platform.
  2. Click Create new secret key.
  3. Name the key for this deployment (for example stackai-production or stackai-xyz).
  4. Copy the key immediately — OpenAI shows the full secret only once. It starts with sk-.
Store the key securely

Treat the API key like a password. Do not commit it to git, paste it into chat, or share it in email. Store it only in CMP's designated StackAI / OpenAI configuration (or your approved secrets manager) and restrict access to administrators who need it.

After you have the key​

  1. Enter the key in CMP using the StackAI or OpenAI settings your deployment exposes (confirm the exact path with StackConsole if it is not visible in your admin panel).
  2. Verify in a non-production environment first when possible — send a simple StackAI request from the customer console and confirm replies stream normally.
  3. Monitor OpenAI usage under Organization → Billing → Usage so production traffic stays within budget.
  4. Rotate the key if it is exposed or when staff with access leave — create a new key in OpenAI, update CMP, then revoke the old key.

Production checklist​

  • OpenAI account created or signed in
  • Payment method added and billing active
  • Prepaid credits or pay-as-you-go selected for production
  • Monthly budget or usage limit configured (optional but recommended)
  • API key created with a clear name (e.g. stackai-production)
  • Key copied and stored securely; old drafts discarded
  • Key configured in CMP StackAI / OpenAI settings
  • StackAI tested from the customer console
  • Usage monitoring and alert contacts defined for your team