diff --git a/src/backend/core/api/demo.py b/src/backend/core/api/demo.py
index fbd31126..2e4d7e66 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/api/demo.py
+++ b/src/backend/core/api/demo.py
@@ -3,9 +3,14 @@ from rest_framework.decorators import api_view
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from minio import Minio
 from django.conf import settings
+import openai
 
 MINIO_BUCKET = "livekit-staging-livekit-egress"
 
+openai_client = openai.OpenAI(
+    api_key=settings.OPENAI_API_KEY,
+)
+
 # todo - discuss retry policy if the webhook fail
 @api_view(["POST"])
 def minio_webhook(request):
diff --git a/src/backend/meet/settings.py b/src/backend/meet/settings.py
index ba7d5fa1..991377ea 100755
--- a/src/backend/meet/settings.py
+++ b/src/backend/meet/settings.py
@@ -396,6 +396,10 @@ class Base(Configuration):
     MINIO_URL = values.Value(
         None, environ_name="MINIO_URL", environ_prefix=None
     )
+    OPENAI_API_KEY = values.Value(
+        None, environ_name="OPENAI_API_KEY", environ_prefix=None
+    )
+
     # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     @property
     def ENVIRONMENT(self):
diff --git a/src/backend/pyproject.toml b/src/backend/pyproject.toml
index 6af2344b..9a78884e 100644
--- a/src/backend/pyproject.toml
+++ b/src/backend/pyproject.toml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "mozilla-django-oidc==4.0.1",
     "livekit-api==0.7.0",
     "minio==7.2.9",
+    "openai==1.51.2"
 ]
 
 [project.urls]
diff --git a/src/helm/env.d/staging/values.meet.yaml.gotmpl b/src/helm/env.d/staging/values.meet.yaml.gotmpl
index 6eedb61e..b4a1a538 100644
--- a/src/helm/env.d/staging/values.meet.yaml.gotmpl
+++ b/src/helm/env.d/staging/values.meet.yaml.gotmpl
@@ -109,6 +109,10 @@ backend:
       secretKeyRef:
         name: backend
         key: MINIO_URL
+    OPENAI_API_KEY:
+      secretKeyRef:
+        name: backend
+        key: OPENAI_API_KEY
 
   createsuperuser:
     command:
diff --git a/src/helm/meet/templates/secrets.yaml b/src/helm/meet/templates/secrets.yaml
index 44b2c5e4..47f4bb2d 100644
--- a/src/helm/meet/templates/secrets.yaml
+++ b/src/helm/meet/templates/secrets.yaml
@@ -24,3 +24,6 @@ stringData:
 {{- if .Values.minioUrl }}
   MINIO_URL: {{ .Values.minioUrl }}
 {{- end }}
+{{- if .Values.openaiApiKey }}
+  OPENAI_API_KEY: {{ .Values.openaiApiKey }}
+{{- end }}