OpenAI spend policy generator

OpenAI API Budget Limit Generator

Generate a request-path budget policy for AI agents calling OpenAI: per-request caps, daily spend limits, session budgets, model routing, revocation, and Evidence Pack receipts.

Read the OpenAI budget guide See agent cost control

Generated YAML policy

agent_policy: research-agent
provider: openai
mode: control
risk_profile: medium
budgets:
  daily: 50.00 USD
  per_session: 10.00 USD
  per_request: 0.75 USD
model_policy:
  default_route: economy
  premium_model_budget_share: 15%
  require_justification_for:
    - gpt-5.5
    - gpt-5.5-pro
controls:
  on_daily_budget_exhausted: block
  on_per_request_exceeded: route_to_economy_model
  on_loop_detected: revoke_session_capability
  on_unknown_agent: deny
capability:
  expiry: task_or_24h
  delegation: attenuated_only
  child_budget_max: 2.50 USD
evidence_pack:
  required: true
  receipt_id: generated_per_decision
  include_payment_context: false
audit:
  level: decision_and_cost
  include:
    - tenant
    - agent
    - workflow
    - model
    - estimated_cost
    - remaining_budget
    - policy_decision
    - upstream_status
Show JSON version
{
  "agent_policy": "research-agent",
  "provider": "openai",
  "mode": "control",
  "risk_profile": "medium",
  "budgets": {
    "daily_usd": 50,
    "per_session_usd": 10,
    "per_request_usd": 0.75
  },
  "model_policy": {
    "default_route": "economy",
    "premium_model_budget_share_percent": 15,
    "require_justification_for": [
      "gpt-5.5",
      "gpt-5.5-pro"
    ]
  },
  "controls": {
    "on_daily_budget_exhausted": "block",
    "on_per_request_exceeded": "route_to_economy_model",
    "on_loop_detected": "revoke_session_capability",
    "on_unknown_agent": "deny"
  },
  "evidence_pack": {
    "required": true,
    "receipt_id": "generated_per_decision",
    "include_payment_context": false
  },
  "audit": [
    "tenant",
    "agent",
    "workflow",
    "model",
    "estimated_cost",
    "remaining_budget",
    "policy_decision",
    "upstream_status"
  ]
}

What good OpenAI budget policy controls

Spend ceilings

Daily, session, per-request, and premium-model limits by agent or workflow.

Model routing

Route routine calls to economy models and require justification for premium models.

Scoped capability

Expire and revoke agent credentials without rotating broad provider keys.

Inline enforcement

Block, route, revoke, or create Evidence Pack receipts before OpenAI API calls execute.

FAQ

OpenAI budget policy questions

What OpenAI API budget limits should AI agents have?

AI agents should have OpenAI API limits by workflow, tenant, agent, model, session, day, and per request, plus premium-model routing rules, revocation triggers, and Evidence Pack receipt fields.

Can OpenAI spend alerts stop runaway agents?

Spend alerts notify teams after usage has happened. Request-path OpenAI budget policy checks estimated cost, remaining budget, model route, and agent identity before each call executes.

Should OpenAI budget policy route to cheaper models?

Yes. A practical policy should route routine work to economy models, reserve premium models for justified tasks, and block or revoke access when budget or risk limits are exceeded.

Budget policy belongs in the request path

Provider dashboards explain the bill after the fact. SatGate checks agent identity, model route, estimated cost, remaining budget, and revocation status before forwarding OpenAI requests, then preserves the decision in an Evidence Pack receipt.

Govern OpenAI spend Calculate runaway cost