---
title: "OpenAI Agents SDK"
sidebarTitle: "OpenAI Agents SDK"
description: "Add persistent memory to OpenAI agents with Supermemory"
icon: "/images/openai.svg"
---
OpenAI's Agents SDK gives you a straightforward way to build agents with tools, handoffs, and guardrails. But agents don't remember users between sessions. Supermemory adds that missing piece: your agents can store what they learn and recall it later.
## What you can do
- Pull user profiles and relevant memories before an agent runs
- Store agent outputs and decisions for future sessions
- Give agents tools to search and add memories on their own
## Setup
Install the packages:
```bash
pip install openai-agents supermemory python-dotenv
```
Set up your environment:
```bash
# .env
SUPERMEMORY_API_KEY=your-supermemory-api-key
OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-api-key
```
Get your Supermemory API key from [console.supermemory.ai](https://console.supermemory.ai).
## Basic integration
The simplest approach: fetch user context and pass it in the agent's instructions.
```python
import os
from agents import Agent, Runner
from supermemory import Supermemory
from dotenv import load_dotenv
load_dotenv()
memory = Supermemory()
def get_user_context(user_id: str, query: str) -> str:
"""Fetch profile and relevant memories for a user."""
result = memory.profile(container_tag=user_id, q=query)
static = result.profile.static or []
dynamic = result.profile.dynamic or []
memories = result.search_results.results if result.search_results else []
return f"""
User background:
{chr(10).join(static) if static else 'No profile yet.'}
Current focus:
{chr(10).join(dynamic) if dynamic else 'No recent activity.'}
Related memories:
{chr(10).join([m.memory or m.chunk for m in memories[:5]]) if memories else 'None.'}
"""
def create_agent(user_id: str, task: str) -> Agent:
"""Create an agent with user context in its instructions."""
context = get_user_context(user_id, task)
return Agent(
name="assistant",
instructions=f"""You are a helpful assistant.
Here's what you know about this user:
{context}
Use this to personalize your responses.""",
model="gpt-4o"
)
async def run_with_memory(user_id: str, message: str) -> str:
"""Run an agent and store the interaction."""
agent = create_agent(user_id, message)
result = await Runner.run(agent, message)
# Save for next time
memory.add(
content=f"User asked: {message}\nResponse: {result.final_output}",
container_tag=user_id
)
return result.final_output
```
---
## Core concepts
### User profiles
Supermemory keeps two buckets of user info:
- **Static facts**: Stuff that doesn't change much (preferences, job, expertise)
- **Dynamic context**: What they're working on right now
```python
result = memory.profile(
container_tag="user_123",
q="travel planning" # Also searches for relevant memories
)
print(result.profile.static) # ["Prefers window seats", "Vegetarian"]
print(result.profile.dynamic) # ["Planning trip to Japan", "Traveling in March"]
```
### Storing memories
Save agent interactions so future sessions have context:
```python
def store_interaction(user_id: str, task: str, result: str):
memory.add(
content=f"Task: {task}\nOutcome: {result}",
container_tag=user_id,
metadata={"type": "agent_run"}
)
```
### Searching memories
Look up past interactions before running an agent:
```python
results = memory.search.memories(
q="previous travel recommendations",
container_tag="user_123",
search_mode="hybrid",
limit=5
)
for r in results.results:
print(r.memory or r.chunk)
```
---
## Adding memory tools to agents
You can give agents direct access to memory operations. They'll decide when to search or store information.
```python
from agents import Agent, Runner, function_tool
from supermemory import Supermemory
memory = Supermemory()
@function_tool
def search_memories(query: str, user_id: str) -> str:
"""Search the user's memories for relevant information.
Args:
query: What to search for
user_id: The user's identifier
"""
results = memory.search.memories(
q=query,
container_tag=user_id,
limit=5
)
if not results.results:
return "No relevant memories found."
return "\n".join([
r.memory or r.chunk
for r in results.results
])
@function_tool
def save_memory(content: str, user_id: str) -> str:
"""Store something important about the user for later.
Args:
content: The information to remember
user_id: The user's identifier
"""
memory.add(
content=content,
container_tag=user_id
)
return f"Saved: {content}"
agent = Agent(
name="assistant",
instructions="""You are a helpful assistant with memory.
When users share preferences or important information, save it.
When they ask questions, search your memories first.""",
tools=[search_memories, save_memory],
model="gpt-4o"
)
```
---
## Example: support agent with memory
A support agent that knows who it's talking to. Past tickets, account info, communication preferences - all available without the customer repeating themselves.
```python
import os
from agents import Agent, Runner, function_tool
from supermemory import Supermemory
from dotenv import load_dotenv
load_dotenv()
class SupportAgent:
def __init__(self):
self.memory = Supermemory()
def get_customer_context(self, customer_id: str, issue: str) -> dict:
"""Pull customer profile and past support interactions."""
result = self.memory.profile(
container_tag=customer_id,
q=issue,
threshold=0.5
)
return {
"profile": result.profile.static or [],
"recent": result.profile.dynamic or [],
"history": [m.memory for m in (result.search_results.results or [])[:3]]
}
def build_instructions(self, context: dict) -> str:
"""Turn customer context into agent instructions."""
parts = ["You are a customer support agent."]
if context["profile"]:
parts.append(f"Customer info: {', '.join(context['profile'])}")
if context["recent"]:
parts.append(f"Recent activity: {', '.join(context['recent'])}")
if context["history"]:
parts.append(f"Past issues: {'; '.join(context['history'])}")
parts.append("Be helpful and reference past interactions when relevant.")
return "\n\n".join(parts)
@function_tool
def escalate_to_human(self, reason: str) -> str:
"""Escalate the issue to a human agent.
Args:
reason: Why escalation is needed
"""
return f"Escalated: {reason}. A human agent will follow up."
@function_tool
def check_order_status(self, order_id: str) -> str:
"""Check the status of an order.
Args:
order_id: The order identifier
"""
# In reality, this would call your order system
return f"Order {order_id}: Shipped, arriving Thursday"
def create_agent(self, context: dict) -> Agent:
return Agent(
name="support",
instructions=self.build_instructions(context),
tools=[self.escalate_to_human, self.check_order_status],
model="gpt-4o"
)
async def handle(self, customer_id: str, message: str) -> str:
"""Handle a support request."""
context = self.get_customer_context(customer_id, message)
agent = self.create_agent(context)
result = await Runner.run(agent, message)
# Store the interaction
self.memory.add(
content=f"Support request: {message}\nResolution: {result.final_output}",
container_tag=customer_id,
metadata={"type": "support", "resolved": True}
)
return result.final_output
async def main():
support = SupportAgent()
# Add some customer context
support.memory.add(
content="Premium customer since 2021. Prefers email communication.",
container_tag="customer_456"
)
response = await support.handle(
"customer_456",
"My order hasn't arrived yet. Order ID is ORD-789."
)
print(response)
if __name__ == "__main__":
import asyncio
asyncio.run(main())
```
---
## Multi-agent handoffs with shared memory
Agents handing off to each other usually lose context. Not if they're sharing a memory store.
```python
from agents import Agent, Runner
class AgentTeam:
def __init__(self, user_id: str):
self.user_id = user_id
self.memory = Supermemory()
def get_shared_context(self, topic: str) -> str:
"""Get context that all agents can use."""
result = self.memory.profile(
container_tag=self.user_id,
q=topic
)
memories = result.search_results.results if result.search_results else []
return "\n".join([m.memory or m.chunk for m in memories[:5]])
def create_researcher(self) -> Agent:
context = self.get_shared_context("research preferences")
return Agent(
name="researcher",
instructions=f"""You research topics and gather information.
User context: {context}""",
model="gpt-4o"
)
def create_writer(self) -> Agent:
context = self.get_shared_context("writing style preferences")
return Agent(
name="writer",
instructions=f"""You write clear, helpful content.
User context: {context}""",
model="gpt-4o"
)
async def research_and_write(self, topic: str) -> str:
"""Research a topic, then write about it."""
# Research phase
researcher = self.create_researcher()
research = await Runner.run(researcher, f"Research: {topic}")
# Store research for the writer
self.memory.add(
content=f"Research on {topic}: {research.final_output[:500]}",
container_tag=self.user_id,
metadata={"type": "research", "topic": topic}
)
# Writing phase
writer = self.create_writer()
article = await Runner.run(
writer,
f"Write about {topic} using this research:\n{research.final_output}"
)
return article.final_output
```
---
## Metadata for filtering
Tags let you narrow down searches later:
```python
# Store with metadata
memory.add(
content="User prefers detailed technical explanations",
container_tag="user_123",
metadata={
"type": "preference",
"category": "communication_style",
"source": "support_chat"
}
)
# Search with filters
results = memory.search.memories(
q="communication preferences",
container_tag="user_123",
filters={
"AND": [
{"key": "type", "value": "preference"},
{"key": "category", "value": "communication_style"}
]
}
)
```
---
## Related docs
How automatic profiling works
Filtering and search modes
Function calling with the regular OpenAI SDK
Memory for LangChain apps