Ollama Adds OpenAI API Support

Ollama has recently become compatible with the OpenAI API, making it easier to compare OpenAI models with open-source ones. In this video, Mark demonstrates how to set up and use the OpenAI API, starting with generating a poem using a curl command. He then shows how to achieve the same result using Ollama by updating the curl command to point to the local server.

Next, Mark moves on to using the Python library. He installs the necessary packages and demonstrates how to use the OpenAI client to generate responses. He then updates the client to use Ollama instead, showing that the process is similar and the results are comparable.

Mark also discusses the benefits of this compatibility, particularly for libraries that do not yet support Ollama. He demonstrates updating a ChainLit app, initially built with LiteLLM and Ollama, to use the OpenAI library instead. This involves modifying the app’s code to replace LiteLLM functions with their OpenAI equivalents.

The updated app features a chat interface where users can type questions and receive responses from Ollama models via the OpenAI library. Mark shows how the app handles file attachments, allowing users to ask questions about the content of the uploaded file.

Throughout the video, Mark emphasizes the ease of transitioning between OpenAI and Ollama, highlighting the flexibility and efficiency of using the OpenAI API with Ollama models. He concludes by encouraging viewers to explore further applications and check out related videos on his channel.