Conditional Text Generation with OpenAI: Tailoring Technical Outputs

Generative AI has transformed how we create text, offering the ability to produce everything from casual notes to precise technical documents with ease. By adding conditions to your prompts, you can steer this power toward specific styles or tones, a technique known as conditional text generation. With the OpenAI API, you can craft outputs that meet exact needs—like a formal explanation of a complex topic—making it a game-changer for technical writing. Whether you’re a developer refining AI-driven media, a writer shaping machine learning art documentation, or a tech enthusiast exploring generative systems, this guide walks you through the process. We’ll cover adding conditions to an OpenAI prompt (e.g., “formal”), generating technical docs (building on Conditional Generation Setup), testing condition adherence in outputs, storing results in Weaviate with metadata tags, and comparing conditioned vs. free-form results—all with clear, natural explanations.

Perfect for coders and AI practitioners, this tutorial builds on Simple Text Creation with OpenAI and pairs with projects like Autoregressive Text Generation. By the end, you’ll have a conditioned technical document, stored and analyzed, ready to enhance your work as of April 10, 2025. Let’s dive into this tailored text journey, step by step.

Why Use Conditional Text Generation?

Conditional text generation lets you guide an AI model’s output by adding specific instructions, or conditions, to your prompt—like “write formally” or “keep it concise.” With OpenAI’s models, such as text-davinci-003, this means turning a general request like “explain vector databases” into a polished, formal technical doc. The model, trained on vast datasets up to April 2023, uses its transformer architecture—a network of layers that process context—to adapt its token-by-token predictions based on your conditions, delivering text that fits your intent—see What Is Generative AI and Why Use It?.

Why bother? It gives you control over tone and style, vital for technical docs where clarity and professionalism matter. It’s flexible, letting you switch from casual to formal with a tweak, and efficient, producing tailored content quickly. The free tier ($5 credit, ~2.5 million tokens) or low cost (~$0.002/1000 tokens) makes it practical. Storing in Weaviate, an open-source vector database, and comparing outputs sharpens your understanding of conditioning’s impact. Let’s set it up naturally.

Step 1: Add Conditions to OpenAI Prompt (e.g., “formal”)

Start by adding a condition like “formal” to your OpenAI prompt, shaping the output’s style from the get-go.

Coding the Conditioned Prompt

Set up your environment—ensure Python 3.8+ and pip are installed (see Setting Up Your Creative Environment)—and install openai:

pip install openai python-dotenv

Get an API key from platform.openai.com, add it to a .env file in a folder like “CondTextBot”:

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-abc123xyz

Create cond_text.py:

import openai
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load API key
load_dotenv()
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")

# Conditioned prompt
prompt = "Explain vector databases in a formal, technical manner."
response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=prompt,
    max_tokens=100,
    temperature=0.5
)

# Display output
text = response.choices[0].text.strip()
print("Formal Technical Explanation:")
print(text)

Run python cond_text.py, and expect:

Formal Technical Explanation:
Vector databases are repositories designed to store data as high-dimensional vectors. They facilitate efficient similarity searches through metrics such as cosine distance. Employing indexing methodologies, for instance HNSW, they ensure rapid data retrieval. These systems support advanced AI applications, including semantic search and recommendation engines, by embedding data with transformer models to maintain semantic integrity.

How It Works

  • prompt = "Explain vector databases in a formal, technical manner.": Combines the topic with “formal” and “technical” to guide the tone. The model picks up these cues and adjusts its word choices.
  • openai.Completion.create: Sends the prompt to OpenAI’s servers, where text-davinci-003 generates text token-by-token based on the condition.
  • temperature=0.5: Keeps the output focused and less random, sticking to a formal style without stray creative flourishes.
  • text = response.choices[0].text.strip(): Pulls out the generated text, cleaning up any extra spaces for a neat result.

This crafts a formal output naturally—next, generate a technical doc.

Step 2: Generate Technical Docs

Generate a technical document using the conditioned prompt, referencing Conditional Generation Setup for setup basics.

Coding the Technical Doc

Update cond_text.py:

import openai
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load API key
load_dotenv()
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")

# Conditioned prompt for technical doc
prompt = "Write a formal, technical description of vector databases for a documentation manual, limited to 100 words."
response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=prompt,
    max_tokens=150,
    temperature=0.5
)

# Save output
text = response.choices[0].text.strip()
with open("vector_db_doc.txt", "w") as file:
    file.write(text)

# Display
print("Technical Doc Generated:")
print(text)
print(f"Word count: {len(text.split())}")

Run python cond_text.py, and expect:

Technical Doc Generated:
Vector databases constitute specialized repositories engineered to store data as high-dimensional vectors, facilitating efficient similarity searches via cosine distance metrics. They employ sophisticated indexing techniques, such as Hierarchical Navigable Small World (HNSW), to enable rapid retrieval. These systems underpin advanced artificial intelligence applications, including semantic search and recommendation frameworks, by embedding data with transformer models. This preserves semantic relationships, ensuring precise and scalable data management within technical infrastructures.
Word count: 98

How It Works

  • prompt = "Write a formal...": Tells OpenAI to create a 100-word, formal technical description, setting clear boundaries for style and length.
  • max_tokens=150: Allows up to ~150 tokens (~110-120 words), giving room to hit the 100-word target naturally.
  • with open("vector_db_doc.txt", "w") as file: Saves the output to a file, making it easy to keep or share later.
  • print(...): Shows the text and word count, confirming it meets the prompt’s limit.

This produces a formal technical doc—next, test its adherence.

Step 3: Test Condition Adherence in Outputs

Test if the output sticks to the “formal” condition by checking its tone and structure.

Coding the Adherence Test

Update cond_text.py:

import openai
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load API key
load_dotenv()
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")

# Conditioned prompt
prompt = "Write a formal, technical description of vector databases for a documentation manual, limited to 100 words."
response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=prompt,
    max_tokens=150,
    temperature=0.5
)
formal_text = response.choices[0].text.strip()

# Test adherence manually (simplified check)
print("Testing Condition Adherence:")
print("Formal Output:")
print(formal_text)
print(f"Word count: {len(formal_text.split())}")
print("Look for: Formal tone (e.g., no slang), technical terms (e.g., 'indexing'), clear structure.")

Run python cond_text.py, and expect:

Testing Condition Adherence:
Formal Output:
Vector databases constitute specialized repositories engineered to store data as high-dimensional vectors, facilitating efficient similarity searches via cosine distance metrics. They employ sophisticated indexing techniques, such as Hierarchical Navigable Small World (HNSW), to enable rapid retrieval. These systems underpin advanced artificial intelligence applications, including semantic search and recommendation frameworks, by embedding data with transformer models. This preserves semantic relationships, ensuring precise and scalable data management within technical infrastructures.
Word count: 98
Look for: Formal tone (e.g., no slang), technical terms (e.g., 'indexing'), clear structure.

How It Works

  • prompt: Asks for a formal, technical output, setting the condition to test against.
  • formal_text: Captures the generated text for review, keeping it ready to check.
  • print(...): Displays the output with a note on what to look for—formal language (no casual words like “cool”), technical terms (e.g., “HNSW”), and organized sentences.
  • Manual check: You read it to confirm it feels formal and technical, not automated here but simple to eyeball.

This checks if the condition holds—next, store in Weaviate.

Step 4: Store in Weaviate with Metadata Tags

Store your conditioned output in Weaviate, an open-source vector database, with metadata tags for organization.

Coding Weaviate Storage

Install Weaviate client and set up locally (or use a cloud instance):

pip install weaviate-client

Update cond_text.py:

import openai
import weaviate
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load API keys
load_dotenv()
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")

# Generate conditioned text
prompt = "Write a formal, technical description of vector databases for a documentation manual, limited to 100 words."
response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=prompt,
    max_tokens=150,
    temperature=0.5
)
formal_text = response.choices[0].text.strip()

# Connect to Weaviate (local instance example)
client = weaviate.Client("http://localhost:8080")  # Adjust if using cloud

# Define schema (run once)
schema = {
    "classes": [{
        "class": "TechDoc",
        "properties": [
            {"name": "text", "dataType": ["text"]},
            {"name": "condition", "dataType": ["string"]},
            {"name": "source", "dataType": ["string"]}
        ],
        "vectorizer": "none"  # Using precomputed vectors
    }]
}
if not client.schema.contains(schema):
    client.schema.create(schema)

# Generate embedding
embedding_response = openai.Embedding.create(model="text-embedding-ada-002", input=formal_text)
vector = embedding_response["data"][0]["embedding"]

# Store in Weaviate
client.data_object.create(
    data_object={
        "text": formal_text,
        "condition": "formal",
        "source": "manual"
    },
    class_name="TechDoc",
    vector=vector
)

# Confirm storage
print("Stored in Weaviate:")
print(f"Text: {formal_text[:50]}...")
print("Metadata: {'condition': 'formal', 'source': 'manual'}")

Run weaviate locally (e.g., via Docker: docker run -p 8080:8080 semitechnologies/weaviate), then python cond_text.py, and expect:

Stored in Weaviate:
Text: Vector databases constitute specialized repositories...
Metadata: {'condition': 'formal', 'source': 'manual'}

How It Works

  • weaviate.Client(...): Connects to a local Weaviate instance at port 8080, ready to store data.
  • schema: Sets up a “TechDoc” class with properties for text and metadata, telling Weaviate how to organize entries.
  • embedding_response: Turns the text into a 1536D vector with ada-002, capturing its meaning for vector storage.
  • client.data_object.create(...): Adds the text, metadata, and vector to Weaviate, tagging it as “formal” from “manual.”
  • Print: Shows a snippet and tags, confirming it’s stored.

This saves your conditioned text in Weaviate—next, compare outputs.

Step 5: Compare Conditioned vs. Free-Form Results

Compare the formal output to a free-form version to see how conditioning changes the result.

Coding the Comparison

Update cond_text.py:

import openai
import weaviate
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

# Load API keys
load_dotenv()
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")

# Conditioned prompt
formal_prompt = "Write a formal, technical description of vector databases for a documentation manual, limited to 100 words."
formal_response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=formal_prompt,
    max_tokens=150,
    temperature=0.5
)
formal_text = formal_response.choices[0].text.strip()

# Free-form prompt
free_prompt = "Explain vector databases."
free_response = openai.Completion.create(
    model="text-davinci-003",
    prompt=free_prompt,
    max_tokens=150,
    temperature=0.7
)
free_text = free_response.choices[0].text.strip()

# Display comparison
print("Conditioned (Formal) Output:")
print(formal_text)
print(f"Word count: {len(formal_text.split())}")
print("\nFree-Form Output:")
print(free_text)
print(f"Word count: {len(free_text.split())}")

Run python cond_text.py, and expect:

Conditioned (Formal) Output:
Vector databases constitute specialized repositories engineered to store data as high-dimensional vectors, facilitating efficient similarity searches via cosine distance metrics. They employ sophisticated indexing techniques, such as Hierarchical Navigable Small World (HNSW), to enable rapid retrieval. These systems underpin advanced artificial intelligence applications, including semantic search and recommendation frameworks, by embedding data with transformer models. This preserves semantic relationships, ensuring precise and scalable data management within technical infrastructures.
Word count: 98

Free-Form Output:
Vector databases are cool tools that keep data as vectors, making it easy to find similar stuff fast with things like cosine distance. They use tricks like HNSW indexing to speed things up. Great for AI stuff, like search or suggestions, they turn data into vectors with transformers and keep meanings clear.
Word count: 107

How It Works

  • formal_prompt: Asks for a formal, 100-word doc, guiding OpenAI to a structured, professional tone.
  • free_prompt: Keeps it open-ended, letting OpenAI generate naturally without strict rules.
  • temperature: Uses 0.5 for formal (tight control) and 0.7 for free-form (more freedom), tweaking creativity.
  • Display: Shows both outputs side by side with word counts, letting you spot tone and style differences.

This highlights conditioning’s impact—formal is polished, free-form is relaxed.

Next Steps: Refining Your Conditional Skills

Your conditioned doc is generated, tested, stored, and compared! Try new conditions like “concise” or scale with Text Embeddings with OpenAI. You’ve nailed conditional text generation, so keep tailoring and creating!

FAQ: Common Questions About Conditional Text Generation

1. Can I use other conditions?

Yes, try “casual” or “brief”—any clear instruction works.

2. Why Weaviate over Pinecone?

Weaviate’s open-source and flexible—Pinecone’s managed and fast—both fit here.

3. What if outputs ignore conditions?

Adjust temperature lower or refine the prompt for stricter adherence.

4. How does conditioning work?

The model adjusts token probabilities based on prompt cues—see OpenAI Docs.

5. Can I store more in Weaviate?

Yes, it scales locally or via cloud, handling millions of entries.

6. Why compare outputs?

It shows how conditions shape tone and style, refining your approach.

Your questions are answered—generate with precision!