Getting Started with AI

Getting Started with AI

Retailer integrates with 2 different AI engines: OpenAI's ChatGPT, and as of Retailer 3.4, Google Gemini. These integrations enable a number of features: you can get AI to write product descriptions for a website, write blog posts, suggest pricing based on online sales data, or arrive invoices from PDF documents.
WarningRetailer 3.4 cannot be installed on Windows 7. See HERE

Activating the AI Tools Module

To use the AI Integrations, the AI Tools module must be enabled. To check this:
  1. On the top menu bar of Retailer, click on Help → Register.
  2. The AI Tools tick-box needs to be ticked. If it isn't, follow the steps below
Notes
The Retailer AI integrations are only available to the Advanced or Ultimate Software Rental levels.
Standard Rental users will need to contact accounts@towersystems.com.au to request an upgrade to Advanced.
Legacy Support users will need to Switch to Rental
If you are unsure, you can check your plan on our Billing page. Login and look under 'Current Subscriptions'. If the plan is called 'Retailer Software Rental Standard' or 'Support Plan...' followed by a colour, you will need to contact Accounts by email accounts@towersystems.com.au

Warning
To use these features, you will need a separate account with either OpenAI or Google Gemini.  Instructions for signup to these services are shown below in each providers section.

Choosing an AI provider

Typically, the cost of these AI engines is not significant - a few cents to arrive an invoice, and fractions of a cent to generate descriptions.

When choosing an AI provider, you should also consider if you want to send the AI and their provider, information about your request or business to help it learn. Generally, the free AI models will use
your information to help the AI learn and grow, while the paid AI models will give you the option for opting in/out of giving the AI information to learn.  So be aware that if you choose to share information with the AI provider your information maybe available in the public domain.  

Getting Started with OpenAI's ChatGPT

OpenAI is a for-profit company located in California. Access OpenAI's ChatGPT requires purchasing credit on their Billing page.
WarningAlert: Retailer requires the OpenAI API access. This is separate to a ChatGPT (Plus or Pro) subscription which is not required
  1. Click HERE, then click the Sign Up button.
  2. Follow the prompts to create an account. This will require verification with both an email address and a mobile phone number.
  3. Once you have created an account and logged in, it should take you to the API keys page. If not, click HERE.
  4. Click Create Secret API key. Copy the code here by clicking the green button at the end of the code. Note that this is your one chance to copy this code, if you make a mistake you will need to generate another key,
  5. From the main menu in Retailer, go to Setup -> API Connection
  6. Scroll down the list here until you find OpenAI.
  7. Click OpenAI, then paste the code you copied into the 'API Key' field. Click Save.
  8. Close & re-open Retailer.
NotesOpenAI requires you to pre-purchase Credit. You can check your OpenAI Credit on their Billing page HERE
You can check your OpenAI Usage HERE
OpenAI have a Limit on the number of requests you can make per minute and per day. You can check this HERE
Info
OpenAI services are provided by their servers, and you can see the status (e.g. interruptions, outages) here:
For more information about how they handle limits of requests, go to:

Getting Started with Google's Gemini

Google Gemini has a free tier that gives you a set number of uses per hour and per day; if you go beyond that limit they will require payment details to continue using their service. In typical use, it is relatively unlikely to go beyond the daily limit of the free tier if you use one of their quicker 'flash' models, though you may exceed the hourly limit. The 'pro' models will run out of free credit very quickly, but are not necessary for good results. 
  1. Click HERE, then sign in with your Google account. You will need to create one if you do not have one already.
  2. Click 'Create API Key'. If prompted to select a project, do so from the drop down box.
  3. Click 'Copy' to copy the API key
  4. From the main menu in Retailer, go to Setup -> API Connection
  5. Scroll down the list here until you find Gemini.
  6. Click Gemini, then paste the code you copied into the 'API Key' field. Click Save'
  7. Close & re-open Retailer.
Info
Google Gemini is an AI service provided by Google, and you can check their service status (e.g. interruptions, outages) here:

Settings

For each AI-based feature in Retailer, you will need to choose between OpenAI and Google, and then select a model. The model refers to which AI engine owned by the company will be used. Some engines are better than others at certain tasks, some may be unsuited entirely, and each engine has different costs associated with it for each use.
Typically, newer engines will give better responses, while older models will be cheaper to use. We have recommendations on which models to use on each AI feature's own article (see the links below), along with info on the other settings you can alter.

To select an AI model:
  1. Ensure you have entered an API key for either OpenAI or Gemini in API Connections and restarted Retailer.
    Warning
    The steps above for the API must be done first, for OpenAI or Gemini before the next step is possible. Otherwise, the menu button for AI will be greyed out.
  2. From the Main Screen of Retailer, click Setup → AI
  3. Read the Terms of Use. Click Yes to agree
  4. A list of Prompt Types will appear for each AI-based feature in Retailer
    Note: Previous Versions of Retailer had a tab for each AI-based feature. You should Update Retailer if your AI Settings screen still shows tabs
  5. Next to each Prompt Type, select a Provider then select a Model. Set Structure Response and Temp (Temperature) as required
    Note: See the specific article for each AI feature below for recommended settings
  6. Once finished, click Save and then Close

Next Steps

See the specific article for the AI feature(s) you wish to use:

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