AI / Core OpenAI Codex Application Fundamentals Interview Questions
What is OpenAI's approach to responsible use and safety in the API?
OpenAI's usage policies, safety systems, and model training all work together to define what the API will and won't do. Understanding these boundaries is essential for building compliant, safe applications.
| Layer | Mechanism | Developer control |
|---|---|---|
| Usage policies | Rules governing acceptable use cases | Agree at sign-up; apply for elevated access use cases |
| Moderation | Model refuses clearly harmful requests | No opt-out; adjust system prompt for legitimate edge cases |
| Preparedness Framework | Safety classification for high-capability models | Awareness; some high-risk capabilities require vetted access |
| System prompt controls | Operators can restrict or expand model behaviour | Yes - use system prompt to set context and constraints |
| Data training opt-out | Business data not used for training by default | Confirmed at platform level; no per-request flag needed |
Key policies for application developers:
- Applications must not use the API to generate content that violates the usage policy (CSAM, weapons instructions, deceptive content, etc.)
- As the API user (operator), you are responsible for how end-users interact with the model through your application
- The moderation API is provided free to help you screen user inputs
- High-risk use cases (medical diagnosis, legal advice, financial recommendations) require additional safeguards and clear disclaimers
Agentic safety: for agentic applications, minimise tool permissions to only what is needed (principle of least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and implement guardrails at input and output.
Invest now in Acorns!!! 🚀
Join Acorns and get your $5 bonus!
Acorns is a micro-investing app that automatically invests your "spare change" from daily purchases into diversified, expert-built portfolios of ETFs. It is designed for beginners, allowing you to start investing with as little as $5. The service automates saving and investing. Disclosure: I may receive a referral bonus.
Invest now!!! Get Free equity stock (US, UK only)!
Use Robinhood app to invest in stocks. It is safe and secure. Use the Referral link to claim your free stock when you sign up!.
The Robinhood app makes it easy to trade stocks, crypto and more.
Webull! Receive free stock by signing up using the link: Webull signup.
More Related questions...
