Connect ChatGPT to Snowflake: A Step-by-Step Guide for Data Analysis Using Natural Language

Want to use ChatGPT to analyze your Snowflake data warehouse? This guide provides a straightforward path to connect ChatGPT directly to your Snowflake data, enabling you to ask questions in plain English and get answers powered by SQL. Unlock the power of AI data analysis with this guide.

Data Analysis with ChatGPT and Snowflake: Why It Matters

Imagine asking ChatGPT, "What were our top-selling products last quarter?" and getting a precise answer derived directly from your Snowflake data. Here's why connecting ChatGPT to Snowflake is a game-changer:

• Natural Language Data Analysis: Ditch complex SQL queries and use simple questions to explore your data.
• Citizen Data Scientist Empowerment: Enable anyone in your organization to glean insights from data, regardless of their SQL knowledge.
• Faster Insights: Quickly uncover data anomalies and potential opportunities with conversational data interaction.

Prerequisites: Getting Your Snowflake Environment Ready

Before linking ChatGPT, ensure your Snowflake environment is properly configured:

• Provision a Snowflake Data Warehouse: If you don't have one, create a Snowflake Data Warehouse.
• User Permissions: Grant the ChatGPT user the necessary roles and privileges to access your databases, schemas, and tables.
• Whitelisting ChatGPT IPs: You may need to configure IP whitelisting in Snowflake to allow ChatGPT to connect. A Snowflake Network Policy might be required.

Remember, you can find the current ChatGPT IP egress ranges in the OpenAI documentation. Be sure to keep those updated!

Step 1: Snowflake Security Integration - Setting Up OAuth

To enable secure communication, set up a Security Integration in Snowflake:

1. Create a Security Integration: This establishes OAuth credentials specifically for ChatGPT. Remember that Snowflake Redirect URIs are one-to-one mapped to Security Integrations

   CREATE SECURITY INTEGRATION CHATGPT_INTEGRATION
   TYPE = OAUTH
   ENABLED = TRUE
   OAUTH_CLIENT = CUSTOM
   OAUTH_CLIENT_TYPE = 'CONFIDENTIAL'
   OAUTH_REDIRECT_URI = 'https://oauth.pstmn.io/v1/callback' --temporary for testing
   OAUTH_ISSUE_REFRESH_TOKENS = TRUE
   OAUTH_REFRESH_TOKEN_VALIDITY = 7776000
   NETWORK_POLICY = chatgpt_network_policy; -- only if you configured one
   

   Copy
2. Retrieve OAuth Credentials: Get your Client ID, Auth URL, and Token URL.

   DESCRIBE SECURITY INTEGRATION CHATGPT_INTEGRATION;
   

   Copy
3. Get the Client Secret: Use the following to retrieve the client secret.

   SELECT
   trim(parse_json(SYSTEM$SHOW_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETS('CHATGPT_INTEGRATION')):OAUTH_CLIENT_ID) AS OAUTH_CLIENT_ID,
   trim(parse_json(SYSTEM$SHOW_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETS('CHATGPT_INTEGRATION')):OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET) AS OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET;
   

   Copy

Step 2: Configure Authentication in ChatGPT

Head over to ChatGPT and set up authentication, using the information retrieved from snowflake.

1. Select "OAuth" as the Authentication Type.
2. Fill in the following fields:
   • Client ID: OAUTH_CLIENT_ID from SHOW_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETS
   • Client Secret: OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET from SHOW_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETS
   • Authorization URL: OAUTH_AUTHORIZATION_ENDPOINT from DESCRIBE SECURITY INTEGRATION
   • Token URL: OAUTH_TOKEN_ENDPOINT from DESCRIBE SECURITY INTEGRATION
   • Scope: session:role:<your_role>* (e.g., session:role:CHATGPT_INTEGRATION_ROLE)
   • Token Exchange Method: Default (POST Request)

Step 3: Post-Authentication - Completing the Connection

Finalize the setup by updating the Security Integration in Snowflake.

1. Copy the Callback URL: ChatGPT provides a callback URL after authentication setup.
2. Set the OAuth Redirect URI: Update your Snowflake Security Integration with this callback URL.

   ALTER SECURITY INTEGRATION CHATGPT_INTEGRATION SET OAUTH_REDIRECT_URI = 'https://chat.openai.com/aip/<callback_id>/oauth/callback';
   

   Copy

Step 4: Custom GPT Instructions - Guiding ChatGPT's SQL Generation

To make the best use of ChatGPT you must provide ChatGPT with access to the database, schemas and tables within Snowflake. This is done by providing it context in the Custom GPT Instructions. This is an example of an effective custom instruction:

You are an expert at writing Snowflake SQL queries. A user is going to ask you a question.

Instructions:

1. No matter the user's question, start by running `runQuery` operation using this query: "SELECT column_name, table_name, data_type, comment FROM {database}.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS"
   -- Assume warehouse = "<insert your default warehouse here>", database = "<insert your default database here>", unless the user provides different values
2. Convert the user's question into a SQL statement that leverages the step above and run the `runQuery` operation on that SQL statement to confirm the query works. Add a limit of 100 rows
3. Now remove the limit of 100 rows and return back the query for the user to see
4. Use the < your_role > role when querying Snowflake
5. Run each step in sequence. Explain what you are doing in a few sentences, run the action, and then explain what you learned. This will help the user understand the reason behind your workflow.

Additional Notes: If the user says "Let's get started", explain that the user can provide a project or dataset, along with a question they want answered. If the user has no ideas, suggest that we have a sample flights dataset they can query - ask if they want you to query that

Troubleshooting and FAQs

• Callback URL Errors: Double-check that the callback URL in your Snowflake Security Integration matches the one provided by ChatGPT.
• Incorrect Warehouse/Database: Explicitly specify the database and warehouse in your ChatGPT instructions or require the user to provide these details.
• IP Whitelisting: Confirm that ChatGPT's IP ranges are correctly whitelisted in your Snowflake Network Policies.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly connect ChatGPT to your Snowflake data warehouse, enabling powerful natural language data analysis and insights. Start exploring your data in a whole new way!