How To Upgrade OpenAI Widgets (steal my custom templates)

Key Concepts

OpenAI Agent Builder Widgets: User interface (UI) elements designed to display data within the OpenAI agent builder. They are front-end components and cannot perform actions or run scripts.
Widget Structure: The code that defines the visual appearance and data display of a widget.
Data.json: A file containing the data that will be presented within a widget.
UI Style Preference: The desired aesthetic or design theme for a widget (e.g., Apple, Spotify, iTunes).
Beta Product: The OpenAI widget builder is described as a beta product, meaning it may contain glitches and errors.
Red Squiggly Lines: Visual indicators of errors or potential issues within the widget builder.
Troubleshooting: Strategies for resolving errors, including reloading the page, recreating the widget, or consulting the community.
Actionable Insights: The ability of an agent to perform tasks based on the data presented in a widget.
Free AI Community: An online community for users to share knowledge, collaborate on projects, and seek help.

1. Designing Widgets for the OpenAI Agent Builder

The video focuses on effectively designing custom widgets for the OpenAI agent builder. It highlights that the current widget builder has limited pre-built options, necessitating the creation of custom components. The presenter offers 10 pre-designed custom widgets as templates for users to integrate into their projects.

2. Leveraging Provided Widget Templates

2.1 Accessing and Using Templates

Users can access the free custom widget templates via a link in the video description, labeled "OpenAI widget free templates."
The templates are organized into categories: Engagement, Financial, and Lifestyle.
Example: To use the "Stock Watchlist" widget:
1. Navigate to the "Financial" category and select "Stock Watchlist."
2. Locate the data.json file, which contains the data to be displayed.
3. In the OpenAI widget builder, select "Start blank."
4. Paste the content of data.json into the designated area.
5. Copy and paste the "widget structure" code into the builder.
6. This process results in the creation of the custom widget.

2.2 Understanding Widget Components

Data.json: This file dictates the information that will be visible in the widget.
Widget Structure: This code defines the front-end presentation of the widget.

3. Creating Custom Widgets with a Prompt

The presenter provides a "Widget builder prompt" designed for users to create their own widgets when pre-made templates are insufficient.

3.1 Prompt Structure and Usage

The prompt is a "plug-and-play template" that requires users to specify two key elements:
1. Data to be displayed: What information should the widget show?
2. UI Style Preference: What visual theme should the widget adopt (e.g., Apple, Spotify, iTunes)?
Example: A user profile widget prompt might specify "user profile information, email, profile picture" as the data and a "dark UI" or "light UI" as the style preference.
Users copy this prompt, paste it into the widget builder, and fill in the bracketed placeholders with their specific requirements.

3.2 Widget Functionality Limitation

Key Point: Widgets are purely front-end elements for displaying data. They cannot perform actions or execute associated scripts (e.g., no buttons, no Python integration). They are referred to as "user interface elements."

4. Troubleshooting Widget Builder Errors

The video acknowledges that the OpenAI widget builder is a beta product and prone to errors, often indicated by "red squiggly lines."

4.1 Common Errors and Solutions

"Red Squiggly Lines": These indicate potential issues, but the presenter emphasizes that they are not always indicative of user error.
"Annoying things": The presenter states that sometimes these errors are due to OpenAI's implementation rather than the user's code.
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Reload the page: A quick and often effective solution.
2. Recreate the widget: Attempt to build the widget again until the errors disappear.
3. Paste code directly: If using a template, try pasting the code directly into the builder.
4. Use the pre-made prompt: Leverage the provided prompt for generating widgets.
5. Consult the community: Seek help in the "school community" (likely referring to a Discord or forum) or in the video comments.

4.2 "Not 100% Foolproof"

The presenter stresses that users should not assume OpenAI's tools are error-free. Errors are expected, and users may encounter issues that are not their fault.

5. Downloading and Integrating Widgets into Workflows

Once a widget is successfully created, it can be downloaded and added to an OpenAI agent workflow.

5.1 Download Process

Despite potential "red squiggly lines," widgets can typically be downloaded. Reloading the page is often the solution.
The downloaded file will be a widget.

5.2 Adding Widgets to Agents

Navigate to a workflow and select an agent.
Instead of text or JSON output, choose the "check kit UI" option.
Click "Add widget."
Click "Upload" and select the downloaded widget file.

5.3 Mapping Data Points to Widgets

Crucial Step: When using a widget as an output format for an agent, it is essential to explicitly instruct the agent on which data points to map to the widget's elements.
Example: The agent's instructions must specify mapping "profile pick," "profile name," and "profile email" to the corresponding fields within the user profile widget.
A more in-depth video on complex workflows and data mapping is available in the presenter's playlist.

6. Additional Resources and Community

6.1 Free AI Community

A "free AI community" is available via a link in the description.
This community is described as similar to Reddit, where users collaborate, build products, and help each other.

6.2 GitHub and X (Twitter)

The presenter encourages users to star their GitHub repository for free source code and follow them on X (Twitter) for early access to updates and information.

7. Synthesis and Conclusion

The video provides a practical guide to designing and implementing custom widgets within the OpenAI agent builder. It offers 10 free pre-designed templates and a prompt-based system for creating new widgets. A significant portion of the content addresses the challenges of working with a beta product, offering troubleshooting tips and emphasizing the importance of community support. The core takeaway is that widgets are visual data display tools, and successful integration requires clear data mapping within agent workflows. The presenter also promotes their community resources for continued learning and collaboration.