OpenAI and Anthropic APIs, end to end
Handle an AI API response without mistaking partial text for success.
Reviewed: 2026-10-03
Source-based teaching example · Fictional data
Narration: Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized

00:00:00.000 — What you will learn

Handle an AI API response without mistaking partial text for success.

Visual description:
Handle an AI API response without mistaking partial text for success.

00:00:07.708 — The idea

Check the response status as well as its text. A stream may stop before the answer is complete. Missing usage information means unknown, not zero.

Visual description:
Check the response status as well as its text. A stream may stop before the answer is complete. Missing usage information means unknown, not zero.

00:00:20.750 — One useful term

API. An interface that lets one program request work from another service.

Visual description:
An interface that lets one program request work from another service.

00:00:29.125 — A worked example

The mock service produces some text, then reports cancellation. Keep the request ID and mark the text as incomplete. Do not trigger a downstream action as if the response succeeded.

Visual description:
The mock service produces some text, then reports cancellation. Keep the request ID and mark the text as incomplete. Do not trigger a downstream action as if the response succeeded.

00:00:44.333 — Your turn to think

Does receiving some text mean the request finished successfully? Pause and decide before continuing.

Visual description:
Does receiving some text mean the request finished successfully?
Pause the video if you need more time.

00:01:01.708 — Why this answer works

No. Check completion, refusal and cancellation explicitly. The exercise is offline and does not establish a live provider’s behavior.

Visual description:
No. Check completion, refusal and cancellation explicitly. The exercise is offline and does not establish a live provider’s behavior.

00:01:14.458 — Check 1

Check status before using the text.

Visual description:
Check status before using the text.

00:01:19.875 — Check 2

Keep unknown usage marked unknown.

Visual description:
Keep unknown usage marked unknown.

00:01:24.958 — Check 3

Do not repeat a consequential action blindly.

Visual description:
Do not repeat a consequential action blindly.

00:01:30.792 — Now try a different case

Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.

Visual description:
Open the lesson
Try the new case
Check and revise
The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.