OpenAI’s latest offering, the Decisions API, is reshaping how developers build responsive, low‑cost AI‑driven features for enterprise applications.
Decisions API is defined as a POST /v1/decisions endpoint that returns typed predicate, choice, or score answers instead of free‑form prose.
What Is the OpenAI Decisions API?
The Decisions API runs on GPT‑6 Luna and accepts text or images together with a list of questions. It responds with structured data—probabilities for true/false conditions, ranked choices, or rubric scores—eliminating the need for post‑processing.
Why It Matters for Enterprise Apps
Speed and cost are critical in high‑volume B2B scenarios such as routing, triage, and classification. OpenAI claims the endpoint is about 10x faster than the Responses API and charges only $0.10 per 1M input tokens with zero output‑token fees. This combination can dramatically reduce latency and operational spend.
When to Choose Decisions Over Responses
Consider the Decisions API when you need:
- Binary or multi‑choice outcomes (e.g., fraud‑check true/false).
- Scoring against a predefined rubric (e.g., sentiment levels).
- High‑throughput workloads where each call can bundle up to 400 questions in a single request.
For tasks that require free‑form explanations or creative generation, the traditional Responses API remains the better choice.
Implementation Tips for Developers
- Batch related queries into a single /v1/decisions call to maximize the 400‑question limit.
- Leverage the typed response schema to skip JSON parsing of generated text.
- Monitor token usage closely; input tokens are the only cost driver.
- Integrate with existing CI/CD pipelines using OpenAI’s SDK, which now includes a dedicated Decisions client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Decisions API suitable for image inputs?
Yes, it can evaluate combined text and image data, returning structured answers based on visual content.
Do I still pay for output tokens?
No. OpenAI’s pricing model for Decisions charges only for input tokens, eliminating output‑token fees.
Can I use the API with existing OpenAI libraries?
The latest OpenAI SDK version includes a decisions client that mirrors the familiar chat and completion interfaces.
What latency improvements can I expect?
OpenAI reports roughly a tenfold speed increase compared to the Responses API, making real‑time decisioning feasible.
How does the pricing compare to the Responses API?
At $0.10 per 1M input tokens and no output fees, the Decisions API is typically cheaper for high‑volume classification workloads.
Neptune Infotech can help you integrate the Decisions API into your enterprise solutions, delivering faster and more cost‑effective AI experiences.
