To use this bot:

1. Set your Venice API key as an environment variable:
```bash
export VENICE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
```

2. Install the required dependencies:
```bash
pip install aiohttp simplexmq
```

3. Run the bot:
```bash
python venice_bot.py
```

Key features of this implementation:

1. Uses ```/ask``` as the command prefix to trigger the bot
2. Implements async/await for better performance
3. Includes error handling for API calls
4. Shows typing indicators while processing
5. Uses environment variables for secure API key storage
6. Maintains a persistent SimpleX connection

To use the bot in a SimpleX chat:
1. Start the bot
2. Use the displayed bot address to add it to your SimpleX chat
3. Send messages with the format: ```/ask your question here```

For example:
```
/ask What is the weather like today?
```

The bot will then process your question through the Venice API and respond with the generated answer.

Note: You'll need to handle the actual SimpleX integration details based on your specific SimpleX setup and requirements. The ```simplexmq``` package used in this example is a placeholder - you'll need to use the actual SimpleX client library or API that matches your setup. [^1]

Remember to:
- Keep your API keys secure
- Implement rate limiting if needed
- Add logging for debugging
- Consider adding more error handling and retry logic for robustness
- Add moderation features if needed for your use case

[^1]: [Venice API Docs](https://docs.venice.ai/api-reference/api-spec#:~:text=Full%20document,more%20information.)