How to Create a ChatGPT Plugin for Currency Conversion

Building a Currency Exchange Rate Converter Plugin for ChatGPT

In the digital era, plugins enhance the capabilities of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, allowing them to interact with external services seamlessly. This tutorial will guide you through creating a simple yet functional Currency Exchange Rate Converter plugin, integrating it with a popular API and even adding some extra features.

What is a ChatGPT Plugin?

A ChatGPT plugin is a tool developed to extend the functionality of ChatGPT by connecting it with various external applications and APIs. These plugins serve as a bridge allowing ChatGPT to offer an extended range of services beyond its pre-built capabilities.

Getting Started: Requirements

• A ChatGPT Plus subscription for developer access to plugins.
• Basic knowledge of programming in Python.
• An API key from Exchange Rates API.
• A Replit account for hosting your plugin.

Step 1: Generate Plugin Ideas with ChatGPT

Begin by opening ChatGPT in your browser, and ask it to generate ideas for a plugin. For this tutorial, we will proceed with the first suggestion: a Currency Exchange Rate Converter.

Step 2: Choose an API

Next, ask ChatGPT for API recommendations. We will select the Exchange Rates API for this tutorial, which offers a free option suitable for our needs. Sign up for a free plan and save your API key for later use.

Step 3: Develop the Plugin

Copy the documentation for the Exchange Rates API from the API Layer website and provide it to ChatGPT to help write the necessary endpoints for our plugin. Specifically, we will focus on the /convert endpoint.

Example Python Code

Ask ChatGPT to write a plugin using the documentation. Below is the code provided by ChatGPT that forms the skeleton of our plugin:

from flask import Flask, request
import requests

app = Flask(__name__)

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"

@app.route('/convert', methods=['GET'])
def convert_currency():
    from_currency = request.args.get('from')
    to_currency = request.args.get('to')
    amount = request.args.get('amount')
    # API logic here
    return response

Step 4: Setup Replit

Create a Replit account and a new repository. Copy the code into the main.py file. Store your Exchange Rates API key in the Secrets section of Replit.

Step 5: Write the Manifest File

Visit the OpenAI plugin documentation and copy the manifest code. Paste it into a file named ai-plugin.json in your Replit repo.

Step 6: Create Open API Definition

Repeat the previous step to create an Open API definition. Save it in an openapi.yaml file in your repository.

Step 7: Complete Your Code

Add the necessary imports and install any required libraries, like waitress. Then serve your app through a web server and ensure you have implemented the required endpoints to link your manifests and definitions.

Step 8: Deploy Your Plugin

Click Run in Replit and copy the URL that is generated. This will be used in your plugin manifest and Open API definition.

Bonus: Integrate with Stable Diffusion

As an extra feature, we can add the ability to generate images using Stable Diffusion. Obtain your Replicate API Token and integrate it into your main.py file. This can enhance the user experience significantly.

import replicate
REPLICATE_API_TOKEN = "YOUR_REPLICATE_API_TOKEN"

def generate_image_conversion():
    # Logic to call Stable Diffusion here

Conclusion

With the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can build a ChatGPT plugin that not only converts currencies but also generates images. Such plugins vastly increase ChatGPT's utility by connecting it with powerful external services.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or ideas!