BambooForge AI Assistant
ChatGPT, right inside Odoo Discuss. Open a normal Discuss conversation and chat with an AI assistant — it reads your full thread history for context, replies inline, and keeps every message stored in Odoo. It runs on your own OpenAI API key: no markup, no middleman, no lock-in.
The assistant, inside a normal Discuss chat
No new screen to learn — you message the AI bot exactly like a colleague, and the reply lands inline in the conversation, formatted and ready to read.
Live capture: a follow-up question, full-thread context, and the AI reply landing inline — recorded on a running Odoo 19.
ChatGPT where your team already works
No browser tabs, no copy-paste, no separate tool to license. The assistant lives in Discuss — the chat your team opens all day — and it answers with the full thread as context. It calls OpenAI directly using your own API key, so OpenAI bills you at their rates and the module never sits between you and your data or adds a cent per message.
What you actually get
A focused, honest assistant — built into Discuss, running on your own key.
Chat inside Discuss
A dedicated AI bot partner you message like any colleague. Type a question; the reply appears inline in the same conversation.
Full conversation as context
Before each reply the assistant reads the whole thread history — every user and assistant turn — so follow-up questions make sense without repeating yourself.
Many separate chats
Start a new Discuss conversation per topic and keep them apart. The first message auto-names the chat so your list stays tidy.
Clean formatting
Replies are rendered from Markdown to HTML — bold, lists, code blocks and links all display properly in the chat.
Pick your model
Choose any model your OpenAI key can access. The list auto-populates after you save the key; it defaults to gpt-3.5-turbo.
Two-minute setup
Paste your OpenAI API key and pick a model in Settings → Integrations. That's the whole configuration.
Every screen, from a live install
Captured from a running Odoo 19 — not mockups.
code and fenced code blocks all display properly — not raw asterisks.
How your data flows — in plain terms
You bring the key
It runs on your own OpenAI account. You add the key, and you can revoke it any time from OpenAI.
Direct to OpenAI
Calls go straight from your Odoo to OpenAI's API. There is no BambooForge server in the loop.
Prompts leave Odoo
Your messages are sent to OpenAI's API and processed under OpenAI's terms — be mindful of what you type, as with any AI tool.
History in your DB
Every conversation is also stored as normal Discuss messages inside your own database, so you keep a full record — alongside whatever OpenAI retains under your account's data policy.
No token markup
You pay OpenAI's published rates and nothing extra. The module adds no per-message fee.
Open to audit
Full OPL-1 source ships with the app, so you can see exactly what is sent to OpenAI on every call.
Honest scope — included vs roadmap
What ships today, and what is planned. No overselling.
| Capability | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AI bot inside Discuss | ✔ Included | Message the assistant like a colleague; replies appear inline. |
| Full-thread context | ✔ Included | The whole conversation history is sent before each reply. |
| Multiple independent chats | ✔ Included | A separate Discuss conversation per topic. |
| Auto-named conversations | ✔ Included | The first message names the chat automatically. |
| Markdown → HTML rendering | ✔ Included | Bold, lists, code and links display correctly. |
| Model picker (any model your key allows) | ✔ Included | List auto-populates after you save the key. |
| 2-field settings | ✔ Included | API key + model in Settings → Integrations. |
| Streaming / typing responses | Roadmap | The full reply arrives at once today. |
| In-app token / cost meter | Roadmap | Track usage in your OpenAI dashboard today. |
| Custom system prompt / persona | Roadmap | Planned for a future release. |
| Image & file input | Roadmap | Text only today. |
Chatting in minutes
From install to your first AI reply in four short steps.
Install
Drop the module in your addons path, restart and install from Apps.
Add your key
Paste your OpenAI API key in Settings → Integrations.
Pick a model
Choose any model your key can access; the list auto-fills after you save.
Chat
Open Discuss, message the assistant, and read the reply inline.
What's in the box
In the box
- A ChatGPT bot you talk to inside Odoo Discuss.
- Full-history context — the whole thread is sent on every reply.
- Multiple independent chats, one per topic.
- Markdown rendering of replies.
- Model picker — any model your OpenAI key allows.
- Simple 2-field configuration.
- Complete OPL-1 source.
Good to know
- You need your own OpenAI API key and pay OpenAI directly.
- Prompts are sent to OpenAI's API and processed under their terms.
- Text only today — no image or file input.
- No streaming yet — the full reply appears when ready.
- Requires the Python
openaiandmarkdownpackages on the server.
Frequently asked
Do I need my own OpenAI key?
Yes — you use your own key and pay OpenAI directly. There's no markup and no shared key; the module simply calls OpenAI on your behalf with the key you provide.
Where do my prompts go?
To OpenAI's API, processed under their terms. The assistant sends your thread so replies have context. Conversations are also stored in your own Odoo Discuss.
Which models can I use?
Any model your key can access. The list auto-fills after you save the key, and the default is gpt-3.5-turbo.
What does it cost to run?
Only your OpenAI usage — pay-as-you-go on your own account. The module adds nothing per message.
Does it stream replies?
Not yet — the full reply appears when it's ready, rather than streaming word by word.
Put ChatGPT where your team already works
BambooForge Labs · ChatGPT inside Odoo Discuss · your own OpenAI key · OPL-1 · source included
bambooforge.labs@gmail.comMore from BambooForge Labs — one vendor, the same standard: tested, documented, supported.
BambooForge AI Assistant: ChatGPT inside Odoo Discuss
Chat with ChatGPT without leaving Odoo. This module adds a ChatGPT contact to your Discuss app: open a conversation, type a question, and the answer comes back as a normal Discuss message. Each chat keeps its own history, and you can run several separate conversations at once — just like talking to a colleague.
This page is the complete manual. If you follow it top to bottom you can install, configure, use, and fix the common issues without contacting support.
Overview
The app connects Odoo Discuss to the OpenAI API so your employees can use ChatGPT inside the tools they already work in. It covers:
- A ChatGPT contact in Discuss — search for ChatGPT in Discuss and start a direct message with it, the same way you message a coworker. It always shows as online.
- Real answers from OpenAI — each message you send is forwarded to OpenAI's chat completion API and the reply is posted back into the conversation.
- Conversation memory — the whole thread is sent with every new message, so ChatGPT remembers the earlier turns of that conversation.
- Multiple separate chats — start as many ChatGPT conversations as you like; each is named automatically after its first message and kept in your Discuss history.
What it is not: it does not read your Odoo business records, does not run actions in Odoo, and is not an "agent". It is a chat window to ChatGPT, wired into Discuss.
Requirements
- Odoo: 19.0, Community or Enterprise.
- OpenAI account: an OpenAI API key from https://platform.openai.com with available credit or billing enabled. The cost of every request is charged to your OpenAI account (see Data, privacy & limits).
- Python libraries: openai and markdown must be installed in the same environment as Odoo (pip install openai markdown). Odoo will refuse to install the module until both are present.
- Network: outbound HTTPS from the Odoo server to api.openai.com.
- Odoo access: any internal user can chat with the ChatGPT contact in Discuss. Only a Settings / Administration user can enter the OpenAI API key and pick the model.
Installation
Install the Python dependencies on the Odoo server:
pip install openai markdown
Copy bambooforge_ai_assistant into your Odoo addons path.
Restart the Odoo service.
Open Apps, click Update Apps List, search for ChatGPT (or BambooForge AI Assistant), and press Activate / Install. The base dependencies (General Settings / base_setup and Discuss / mail) install automatically.
Installing the module also creates a hidden internal account named ChatGPT. This is the "author" of the assistant's replies in Discuss; it is inactive and is not a person you pay for.
Configuration
All settings live on one screen: Settings ▸ General Settings ▸ Integrations ▸ Odoo ChatGPT Integration. There is no separate menu — the two fields are added to the standard General Settings page.
Step 1 — Get an OpenAI API key
- Sign in at https://platform.openai.com.
- Go to API keys (https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys). The settings screen also has a Generate an OpenAPI API Key link that opens this page.
- Click Create new secret key, copy the value (it starts with sk-) — it is shown only once.
- Make sure your OpenAI account has billing set up or available credit, otherwise requests will fail with a quota error (see Troubleshooting).
Step 2 — Enter the key and pick a model in Odoo
- Open Settings ▸ General Settings, scroll to the Integrations section, and find Odoo ChatGPT Integration.
- Paste your key into the OpenAI API Key field.
- As soon as you enter a valid key, the app contacts OpenAI, validates the key, and fills the ChatGPT Model dropdown with the models your account can use. It also pre-selects a sensible default if available (it tries chatgpt-4o-latest, then gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, then gpt-3.5-turbo).
- Pick the model you want from ChatGPT Model. Pricing and capability differ per model — see OpenAI's pricing page.
- Click Save.
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| OpenAI API Key | The sk-… secret key used for every request. Stored as the system parameter bambooforge_ai_assistant.openapi_api_key. There is one key for the whole database (system-wide, not per user). |
| ChatGPT Model | The OpenAI model used to answer. The list is refreshed from your account when you enter the key. Stored as bambooforge_ai_assistant.chatgp_model_id. If no model is chosen, the app falls back to gpt-3.5-turbo. |
If the key is wrong, Odoo shows the warning "The OpenAI API Key is not valid" and does not fill the model list. Re-check the key and try again.
Usage
Once a key and model are saved, any internal user can use the assistant:
- Open the Discuss app.
- In the Direct messages search (the + next to Direct messages, or the New message search), type ChatGPT and select the ChatGPT contact. It appears as online.
- A conversation opens. Type your question and send it like any Discuss message.
- The reply from ChatGPT is posted back into the same conversation, formatted from Markdown (lists, code blocks and bold text render properly).
Multiple conversations. Start a new chat with the ChatGPT contact whenever you want a fresh, separate thread. Each conversation is named automatically after its first message, so you can tell them apart in your Discuss sidebar.
History & context. Every message in a conversation is kept in Discuss. When you send a new message, the entire current conversation is sent to OpenAI so the assistant answers with the earlier turns in mind. Different conversations do not share context with each other.
Deleting a conversation. Unpinning (closing) a ChatGPT conversation removes it — the chat and its history are deleted from your Discuss. Start a new chat to begin again.
Customization
This is a deliberately small module. The pieces you can change:
| Item | Where / how |
|---|---|
| API key | Settings ▸ General Settings ▸ Integrations ▸ Odoo ChatGPT Integration. One key per database, set by an administrator. |
| Model | Same screen, ChatGPT Model. Switch models any time; the change applies to the next message in every conversation. |
| Available models | The model list (model chatgpt.model) is rebuilt from OpenAI each time you enter the API key. Internal users can read it but not edit it. |
| Who can chat | Any internal user (group Internal User). The assistant is a Discuss contact, so Discuss access is all that is required. |
There is no per-user API key: the whole database shares the single key entered in Settings, and all OpenAI usage is billed to that one account.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause and fix |
|---|---|
| "The OpenAI API Key is not valid" when saving Settings | The key is wrong, revoked, or copied with extra spaces. Re-copy it from https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys and paste it again. |
| The model list stays empty after entering the key | The key could not reach OpenAI (invalid key or the server cannot make outbound HTTPS calls to api.openai.com). Verify the key, then check the server's network and firewall. |
| I send a message but get no reply | No model is selected, the key is blank/invalid, or OpenAI returned an error. Open Settings ▸ General Settings and confirm both OpenAI API Key and ChatGPT Model are set. If they are, the error text from OpenAI is usually posted back into the conversation — read it for the exact cause. |
| Reply says "insufficient quota" / billing error | Your OpenAI account has no credit or no active billing. Add a payment method or credit at https://platform.openai.com — costs are charged to your OpenAI account, not to BambooForge. |
| Reply says "rate limit" / 429 | You are sending requests faster than your OpenAI plan allows, or the model is momentarily overloaded. Wait a moment and resend; consider a higher OpenAI tier for heavy use. |
| "model not found" / the chosen model errors | Your OpenAI account cannot access that model, or the model id changed on OpenAI's side. Open Settings, re-enter the key to refresh the list, and pick a model your account can use (e.g. gpt-4o-mini or gpt-3.5-turbo). |
| ChatGPT does not appear when I search in Discuss | The module is not fully installed, or you are not an internal user. Confirm the app is installed and that you log in as an internal (not portal/public) user. |
| The app will not install | The Python libraries are missing. Run pip install openai markdown in the Odoo environment and restart, then install again. |
| I can see Settings but the fields are read-only / missing | You are not a Settings administrator. Only Settings / Administration users can enter the API key and model. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own OpenAI account? Yes. The module talks to OpenAI on your behalf using your API key, and every request is billed to your OpenAI account. The module itself does not include any OpenAI usage.
Where do I put the API key? Settings ▸ General Settings ▸ Integrations ▸ Odoo ChatGPT Integration ▸ OpenAI API Key. Only an administrator can set it; it applies to the whole database.
Which model does it use? Whatever you pick in ChatGPT Model on the same screen. The list is populated from your OpenAI account. If nothing is selected, it falls back to gpt-3.5-turbo.
Can each user use their own key? No. There is a single, database-wide key. All conversations from all users use it.
Does it remember my previous chats? Within one conversation, yes — the full thread is sent to OpenAI each time. Separate conversations are independent and do not share context.
Can it read or edit my Odoo data? No. It only sends the text you type in the conversation. It does not access records, reports or actions in Odoo.
How do I start a new, clean conversation? Start a new direct message with the ChatGPT contact in Discuss. Each one is a separate thread with its own history.
What support and refund policy do I get? Every request is answered within 24 hours, setup help included. If you report a bug within 2 months of purchase and it is not resolved within 15 days, you are entitled to a full money-back refund.
Data, privacy & limits
- What is sent to OpenAI: the text of the messages in the current conversation. When you send a message, the whole thread of that conversation is transmitted to OpenAI's chat completion API so it can answer in context. Nothing else from your Odoo database is sent.
- Where the key lives: the API key is stored in Odoo's system parameters and is readable only by administrators.
- Costs are yours: usage is billed to your own OpenAI account at OpenAI's rates for the model you choose. BambooForge does not resell or mark up OpenAI usage.
- OpenAI's terms apply: data you send is processed by OpenAI under OpenAI's data and privacy policies. Do not send secrets or regulated data you are not allowed to share with a third-party API.
- Out of scope: the assistant does not query Odoo records, does not perform Odoo actions, has no per-user keys, and provides one shared model selection for the whole database.
Support & updates
- Support: bambooforge.labs@gmail.com — answered within 24 hours, setup help included.
- Refund: report a bug within 2 months of purchase; if unresolved within 15 days, full refund.
- Full source is included. Updates track the supported Odoo 19 line and the OpenAI API.
Upgrading & version compatibility
This build targets Odoo 19.0. Each Odoo major series (17.0, 18.0, 19.0) has its own dedicated build of this module — always install the build that matches your Odoo version. Mixing a build with a different Odoo series is not supported.
Patch upgrades (same series, e.g. 19.0.1.0.0 → later)
Back up your database and filestore first.
Replace the module folder with the newer build.
Restart Odoo with the module updated:
./odoo-bin -c your.conf -u bambooforge_ai_assistant -d your_db
Odoo applies any schema/data changes automatically. Your existing records and configuration are preserved.
Cross-version migration (e.g. Odoo 17 → 18)
Upgrading Odoo itself is a database migration handled by Odoo's standard upgrade tooling. When you migrate the database to the next Odoo series, install the matching build of this module for that series. Data created by this module carries over with the database migration.
Uninstallation
You can remove this module at any time from Apps → (this module) → Uninstall, or from the command line. Uninstalling is clean and reversible by reinstalling — but note what is and is not deleted.
What is removed
- The module's own tables and every record in them (1 model, prefixed chatgpt.*) — this is the data this module created.
- The menus, actions, views and reports this module installed.
What is preserved
- Your standard Odoo data (partners, products, sales, invoices, inventory moves) is not deleted — this module only reads and annotates it; the underlying records stay.
- Attachments and chatter messages on standard records are kept.
As always, take a database backup before uninstalling in production.
Changelog
19.0.1.0.1
Current release for Odoo 19.0. This build includes:
- Boost Employee Productivity with ChatGPT Integrated into Odoo. With conversation history tracking and the ability to create multiple separate chats, employees get a virtual assistant that supports them in handling tasks quickly and effectively.
Feature additions and fixes ship as new builds on the Odoo Apps store; this page and the module's version reflect the current published release. Always keep the build matched to your Odoo series (see Upgrading & version compatibility).
Odoo Proprietary License v1.0 This software and associated files (the "Software") may only be used (executed, modified, executed after modifications) if you have purchased a valid license from the authors, typically via Odoo Apps, or if you have received a written agreement from the authors of the Software (see the COPYRIGHT file). You may develop Odoo modules that use the Software as a library (typically by depending on it, importing it and using its resources), but without copying any source code or material from the Software. You may distribute those modules under the license of your choice, provided that this license is compatible with the terms of the Odoo Proprietary License (For example: LGPL, MIT, or proprietary licenses similar to this one). It is forbidden to publish, distribute, sublicense, or sell copies of the Software or modified copies of the Software. The above copyright notice and this permission notice must be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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