How to Sign Up for OpenAI

Follow these steps to sign up with the OpenAI platform and generate an API key for using AI-powered search (Intelligent Search) in R2.

1. Signing Up for OpenAI

Creating your OpenAI account is the first step for accessing platform features, API keys, and billing tools. Registration ensures you have a secure, personalized environment for integrating AI services with R2 Intelligent Search.

Steps:

1. Go to the OpenAI Signup Page.

2. Enter your email address and create a password, or use a supported Google/Microsoft login.

3. Verify your email address via the confirmation email sent to you.

4. Complete any required profile details (such as organization or business info).

2. Adding a Billing Plan & Buying Credits

Before using the OpenAI API, your organization must have an active billing setup. Adding payment details and credits allows your projects to consume API resources and ensures uninterrupted access.

Steps:

1. Log into the OpenAI platform

2. Navigate to Billing at https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing/overview

3. Under Payment Methods, click Add payment method and enter your payment information.

4. Once added, click Buy credits to purchase credits for your organization.

5. (Optional) Under Preferences, you can update billing details as needed.

6. (Optional) In Usage Limits, set or edit your maximum spend limits for budget control.

3. Project Creation

Creating projects allows you to organize API keys, model access, and usage analytics for separate applications or environments. It enhances security and management for your Intelligent Search integration.

Steps:

1. In the OpenAI platform, go to the Projects section from the main sidebar.

2. Click New Project.

3. Enter the project name, for example R2 intelligent search.

4. Confirm to create the project.

4. API Key Generation

API keys provide secure programmatic access to OpenAI services from your R2 application. Each project can have multiple keys with fine-grained permissions.

Steps:

1. With your R2 intelligent search project selected, go to API Keys in the project sidebar.

2. Click Create new secret key.

3. Assign a name or description (for identification), then click Create.

4. Copy the generated secret API key and store it securely (you won’t be able to see it again).

5. (Optional) Allow or Block Specific Models

Leave the default limit settings unless you want to control which models your project can access. You can allow or block models. For R2 Intelligent Search, ensure that model gpt-4.1 is explicitly allowed while restricting other models.

Steps:

1. Go to organization settings.

2. Within your R2 intelligent search project, select Limits in the Project section of the navigation list.

3. Under Model Usage > Allow or block models, click Select models. Specify any models to block or allow if desired.

4. Make sure gpt-4.1 is allowed.

By following the above instructions, your OpenAI account and project will be ready for integration with R2 Intelligent Search, with gpt-4.1 model access explicitly enabled.

Refer to OpenAI documentation https://help.openai.com/for any additional details.