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The Code Interpreter: A Powerful AI Tool for Generating Code from Natural Language

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

Discover the transformative power of OpenAI's Code Interpreter, an innovative AI tool revolutionizing coding by translating natural language into functional code. Unlock new possibilities in programming, from automating tasks and generating machine learning models to making coding accessible for non-coders. Explore its potential, industry applications, and the exciting future it promises for developers and learners alike.


Imagine a world where programming is as simple as expressing your thoughts in plain English, and watching the magic happen as a machine transforms them into functional code. Well, that world is not far away, thanks to OpenAI’s incredible creation called the Code Interpreter which is part of their ChatGPT offering. This groundbreaking AI tool is revolutionizing the way we write code and tapping into our inner superhero programmer. How is Code Interpreter tapped by the broader community of software developers, enthusiasts, and businesses?


The non-coder or business: • Write a natural language description of your application. • Run the Code Interpreter on your description. • Compile and run the code.


The experienced developer: • Generate code for common patterns. • Catch errors in your code.


Coding is no longer a skill reserved for the elite. Thanks to the Code Interpreter, anyone can create amazing applications by simply describing what they want in plain English. How cool is that? But wait, there’s more. The Code Interpreter is not the only AI-powered tool that can help you write code. There’s also Copilot, which can complete your code as you type. Sounds awesome, right? However, before you get too excited, you should know that these two tools are not exactly the same. Let me explain.


The Code Interpreter is an innovative natural language processing tool that can generate code from a natural language description. This means that non-coders can use the Code Interpreter to create applications without having to learn how to code. Copilot, on the other hand, is a smart code completion tool that can suggest code snippets based on the code that you are currently writing. This means that Copilot is only useful for experienced developers who are already familiar with coding.


Another difference between the two tools is that the Code Interpreter is still under development, while Copilot is a more mature product. This means that the Code Interpreter may not be as accurate or reliable as Copilot. However, the Code Interpreter is still a powerful tool that can help developers write code more quickly and easily.


Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between the Code Interpreter and Copilot:



How to Use this Amazing Tool to Automate, Visualize, and Create


Photo by D koi on Unsplash


Powering the Code Interpreter is a remarkable LLM (Large Language Model) from OpenAI. This powerful model has been trained on a massive amount of code and natural language data, equipping it with the ability to understand the meaning behind both code and text. This means that the Code Interpreter can effortlessly translate your natural language instructions into accurate and efficient code in any commonly used programming language.


Now, let’s explore some of the mind-boggling real-world applications of the Code Interpreter:

  • Picture this: software engineers automating repetitive tasks like generating code for common patterns or catching errors through code linting. The Code Interpreter makes it all possible, freeing up valuable time and energy for the developer.

  • How about data scientists building complex machine learning models without needing to write a single line of code? Yes, you heard that right! The Code Interpreter is a dream come true for those who want to dive into machine learning without the coding hurdles.

  • And what if you’re not a technical wizard, but you have a great idea for an application? No problem! The Code Interpreter welcomes you to the world of coding. With a simple description of what you want your application to do, it brings your ideas to life, opening doors for non-technical users to create simple applications effortlessly.


Using Code Interpreter from Python directly

I tapped a recently developed packages such as codeinterpreterapi that plugs into OpenAPI Code Interpreter and gave some amazing outcomes. Look at this innocent piece of Python code below:



import configparser
import os

# Create a config parser
config = configparser.ConfigParser()

# Read the configuration from the file
config.read('config.ini')

# Set the environment variables
os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = config.get('DEFAULT', 'OPENAI_API_KEY')
os.environ["VERBOSE"] = config.get('DEFAULT', 'VERBOSE')

from codeinterpreterapi import CodeInterpreterSession
import nest_asyncio
nest_asyncio.apply()

import asyncio
from datetime import datetime
from codeinterpreterapi.schema import File

async def stockdata_generator():

    async with CodeInterpreterSession() as session:

        currentdate = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
        user_request = f'''give a fictitious stock data for forecasting for an year before current date (Current date is {currentdate}). The trading days in a year are around 252.The initial price of the stock will be set to $100. The stock will have a daily return that will be normally distributed with mean 0.0005 (corresponding to an annual return of about 12.6%) and standard deviation 0.02 (which is a quite common value for real stocks). The stock price will follow a geometric random walk. Save the stock data in a csv file format as stock_data.csv with two columns date and price respectively.'''

        files = [
        ]


        # generate the response
        response = await session.generate_response(
            user_request, files=files
        )

        print("AI: ", response.content)
        for file in response.files:
            if file.name == "stock_data.csv":
                file.save("stock_data.csv")
            else:
                file.show_image()


asyncio.run(stockdata_generator())

This code will generate a CSV file containing the stock data. The file will have two columns: date and price. The date column will contain the date of the stock price, and the price column will contain the price of the stock on that date.


The code also prints the generated stock data to the console. This can be helpful for debugging the code or for seeing the data before it is saved to a file.


To run the code, you will need to install the codeinterpreterapi Python package. You can do this with the following command:



Once you have installed the package, you can run the code by saving it as a Python file and then running it from the command line.


As you can see, this code is quite simple. But with the help of codeinterpreterapi, it can generate realistic stock data that can be used for forecasting or other purposes.


Visualizing stock data with CodeInterpreter

The code snippet above can be used to generate a line chart for stock data. The line chart will show the price of the stock over time.


To run the code, you will need to install the codeinterpreterapi Python package and the matplotlib Python package.



async def stockdata_visualizer():

    async with CodeInterpreterSession() as session:

        user_request = "Generate a linechart for this stock dataset. X-axis is date and Y-axis is price"
        files = [
            File.from_path("stock_data.csv"),
        ]

        # generate the response
        response = await session.generate_response(
            user_request, files=files
        )

        # ouput the response (text + image)
        print("AI: ", response.content)
        for file in response.files:
            if file.name == "stock_data.csv":
                continue
            else:
                file.show_image()

                # plot the line chart
                data = file.content
                dates = data["dates"]
                prices = data["prices"]
                plt.plot(dates, prices)
                plt.show()


asyncio.run(stockdata_visualizer())

Here is an example of a line chart that can be generated from the code snippet above:



The Code Interpreter is not really required to plot a line chart in the above example. The person who wrote the code could have just as easily read the data from the CSV file and plotted the chart themselves.


However, I think the example still shows the potential of the Code Interpreter. The Code Interpreter was able to generate the code to plot the line chart without any human intervention. How awesome is that? This means that the Code Interpreter could be used to automate the process of plotting charts.


For example, the Code Interpreter could be used to plot different charts for a large dataset. This would save the person who wrote the code a lot of time and effort.


Another example where the Code Interpreter could be useful is for generating code to plot line charts for different types of data. For example, the Code Interpreter could be used to plot line charts for data that is stored in different formats, such as CSV files, JSON files, or XML files.


The Code Interpreter allows us to write natural language descriptions of what we want to do, and the library translates these descriptions into code. This can be a powerful tool for developers who want to automate tasks or explore new ideas in computer science.


Here’s a association diagram that might help to visualize what’s happening:


The natural language description is what we write in the stock data visualizer function. The Code Interpreter translates this description into code, which is then printed to the console.


How to protect your privacy and safety when using any code interpreter APIs

APIs are powerful tools that can help you access data and functionality from other websites and applications. But did you know that there are some risks involved in using APIs, such as data breaches and privacy violations? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips for using APIs safely and privately:

  • Only share data that is necessary. The less data you share, the less chance there is that it will be compromised.

  • Know the risks. There is always some risk associated with sharing data online. However, by following these tips, you can help to reduce the risk.

  • Back up your data regularly. This will help you to recover your data if the API is shut down.

By following these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of APIs without compromising your privacy and safety.


The Code Interpreter: The Future of Programming Powered by AI


The Code Interpreter is a powerful new tool that is revolutionizing the way we code. This AI-powered tool allows developers to generate synthetic data, visualize data, and build machine learning models by simply providing a natural language description of what they want to do.

This means that developers can now use data science to solve problems without having to be experts in statistics or machine learning. This is a game-changer, and it has the potential to change the way we use data science.


The Code Interpreter is still under beta testing at the time of this writing, but its potential to transform the coding landscape is awe-inspiring. It allows programmers to focus on the more creative and strategic aspects of their work while improving code quality and making coding more accessible to learners.


So, are you ready to unleash your inner superhero programmer?


The Code Interpreter is the mighty tool that can help you become a more productive and imaginative programmer. Here are a few additional benefits of using the Code Interpreter:

  1. Learning new programming languages becomes a breeze.

  2. The Code Interpreter provides natural language explanations of code, allowing you to understand new concepts more easily and speed up your learning.

  3. Debugging your code becomes a piece of cake.

  4. The Code Interpreter can identify potential errors and suggest improvements, helping you write more reliable and efficient code.

  5. Collaboration with fellow programmers becomes seamless.

  6. The Code Interpreter can translate your natural language instructions into code that others can understand, making communication clearer and more efficient.

If you’re looking for a way to take your coding skills to the next level, the Code Interpreter is the tool for you. With its powerful AI capabilities, the Code Interpreter can help you write better code, faster.


Some examples of how the Code Interpreter can be used:

Do you want to see some examples of what the Code Interpreter can do? Here are some amazing ways you can use this tool:

  1. Generate synthetic data: The Code Interpreter can generate synthetic data that fits your specific requirements. This can be useful for testing your code or for creating training data for machine learning models.

  2. Visualize data: The Code Interpreter can display data in a variety of ways, including charts, graphs, and tables. This can help you analyse your data better and make smarter decisions.

  3. Build machine learning models: The Code Interpreter can help you build machine learning models that can make predictions or classify data. This can be used for many purposes, such as fraud detection, customer segmentation, and product recommendations.

The sky is the limit!

The Code Interpreter is a versatile tool that can be used for a many tasks. If you’re looking for a way to boost your coding skills or automate your work, the Code Interpreter is a great option.


The Code Interpreter holds the key to unlocking your programming potential. Embracing this powerful tool and others similar to this is akin to embarking on an exciting journey.


Industry Applications of the Code Interpreter


Here are some amazing examples of how this tool can help different professionals:

  • A data scientist could use the Code Interpreter to generate synthetic data that fits the specific need of their project. This would help them to test their code and create training data for machine learning models without having to collect their own data.

  • A software developer could use the Code Interpreter to automate repetitive tasks, such as generating code for common patterns or catching errors through code linting. This would save the developer time and energy and let them focus on more creative and strategic tasks.

  • A financial analyst could use the Code Interpreter to generate financial models that can be used to make investment decisions. This would help the analyst to analyse large amounts of data quickly and make more informed decisions.

  • A healthcare professional could use the Code Interpreter to generate medical models that can be used to diagnose diseases or develop new treatments. This would allow the professional to make decisions about patient care based on complex data.

  • An educator could use the Code Interpreter to create interactive learning experiences for students. This would help students learn new concepts more effectively and engage them in the learning process.


These are just a few examples of the many ways that the Code Interpreter can be used in industry. As the tool continues to improve, we can expect to see even more innovative and creative applications emerge.


Limitations of Code Interpreter:

The Code Interpreter is a powerful tool that can help you generate code from natural language descriptions. However, it is not perfect. It has some limitations that you should know before using it.

  1. One limitation of the Code Interpreter is that it is still under development. This means that it may not be as accurate or reliable as other tools. For example, the Code Interpreter may generate incorrect code, which could cause errors in your application or even security vulnerabilities. The Code Interpreter may also generate inefficient code, which could make your application slower or less performant.

  2. Another limitation of the Code Interpreter is that it is designed for a wide range of users, from non-coders to experienced developers. This means that it may not be as easy to use for some users as other tools. For example, non-coders may find it difficult to understand the natural language descriptions that the Code Interpreter requires.

  3. Finally, it is important to remember that the Code Interpreter is a tool. It is not a replacement for human judgment. You should always review the code that the Code Interpreter generates before you use it. This will help you to ensure that the code is accurate, reliable, and efficient.

Here are some tips for using the Code Interpreter safely and effectively:


Start with simple tasks:

When you are first starting out with the Code Interpreter, it is a good idea to start with simple tasks. This will help you to get a feel for how the tool works and to identify any potential problems.


Use it as a learning tool:

The Code Interpreter can also be used as a learning tool. If you are not familiar with coding, you can use the Code Interpreter to generate code and then study the code to learn how it works.


Be careful with complex tasks:

When you are working on complex tasks, it is important to be careful with the Code Interpreter. The Code Interpreter may not be able to generate accurate or efficient code for complex tasks.


Always review the code:

Always review the code that the Code Interpreter generates before you use it. This will help you to ensure that the code is accurate, reliable, and efficient.


The Code Interpreter is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we code. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations before using it. By following these tips, you can use the Code Interpreter safely and effectively. The Code Interpreter is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we work in many industries. As the tool continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and creative applications emerge.


I think it is fair to say that Code Interpreter is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we code. However, it is important to be realistic about its limitations. It is not a replacement for human judgment, and it should not be used without careful review.


I can’t wait to see how Copilot and other code generation tools evolve in the future. I believe that these tools have the potential to make coding more fun and easier for everyone.

I hope this blog has sparked your curiosity and enthusiasm to try out the Code Interpreter and be part of the bright future, where AI rules the world. Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure?



About Author

Rajesh Ramachander

VP and Head of Technology

Rajesh Ramachander is the visionary leader at the helm of our technology initiatives. With an impressive track record in driving high-complexity tech programs, his passion for AI and ML ignites innovation and fosters growth. Pursuing a Ph.D. in AI, Rajesh is committed to mentoring the next generation of talent. As a published author and avid explorer, his diverse insights inspire us to push the boundaries of possibilities.


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