RecursionError on startup when using the extension in JupyterHub

[mschroering]

Description

RecursionError on startup when using the extension in JupyterHub

Reproduce

1. Installed latest jupyter_ai and openai packages in Jupyterlab notebook server image.
2. Started a new notebook server using the image in a JupyterHub deployment running in Kubernetes.
3. On page load, the chat window says an error occurred.

Running the Jupyterlab docker image locally in standalone mode works.

Expected behavior

The jupyter_ai extension loads and works properly in JupyterHub deployments.

Context

• Operating System and version: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
• Browser and version: Chrome 112
• JupyterLab version: 3.6.3
• jupyter_ai version: 0.7.1
• Jupyter core packages:
  IPython : 8.12.0
  ipykernel : 6.22.0
  ipywidgets : 8.0.6
  jupyter_client : 8.2.0
  jupyter_core : 5.3.0
  jupyter_server : 2.5.0
  jupyterlab : 3.6.3
  nbclient : 0.7.3
  nbconvert : 7.3.1
  nbformat : 5.8.0
  notebook : 6.5.4
  qtconsole : 5.4.2
  traitlets : 5.9.0

Command Line Output - Taken from notebook server running in JupyterHub

[E 2023-05-12 09:46:57.278 SingleUserLabApp web:1854] Uncaught exception GET /user/mark.schroering/api/ai/chats?token=*********** (::ffff:10.1.6.237)                                                         │
     HTTPServerRequest(protocol='http', host='jupyterhub.**********.net', method='GET', uri='/user/mark.schroering/api/ai/chats?token=*********', version='HTTP/1.1', remote_ip='::ffff:10.1.6.237')           │
     Traceback (most recent call last):                                                                                                                                                                                           
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tornado/web.py", line 1748, in _execute                                                                                                                              
        result = await result  # type: ignore                                                                                                                                                                                    
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_server/base/handlers.py", line 605, in prepare                                                                                                               
         _user = self.identity_provider.get_user(self)                                                                                                                                                                            
      File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_server/auth/identity.py", line 705, in get_user                                                                                                              
         user = self.login_handler_class.get_user(handler)                                                                                                                                                                        
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyterhub/singleuser/mixins.py", line 129, in get_user                                                                                                              
         return handler.get_current_user()                                                                                                                                                                                        
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_ai/handlers.py", line 175, in get_current_user                                                                                                               
         username=self.current_user.username,                                                                                                                                                                                     
       ....
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_ai/handlers.py", line 175, in get_current_user                                                                                                               
        username=self.current_user.username,                                                                                                                                                                                           
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tornado/web.py", line 1403, in current_user                                                                                                                          
         self._current_user = self.get_current_user()                                                                                                                                                                             
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_ai/handlers.py", line 175, in get_current_user                                                                                                               
         username=self.current_user.username,                                                                                                                                                                                     
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tornado/web.py", line 1403, in current_user                                                                                                                          
         self._current_user = self.get_current_user()                                                                                                                                                                             
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_ai/handlers.py", line 175, in get_current_user                                                                                                               
         username=self.current_user.username,                                                                                                                                                                                     
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/tornado/web.py", line 1403, in current_user                                                                                                                          
         self._current_user = self.get_current_user()                                                                                                                                                                             
       File "/opt/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/jupyter_ai/handlers.py", line 173, in get_current_user                                                                                                               
         login = getpass.getuser()                                                                                                                                                                                                
       File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/getpass.py", line 163, in getuser                                                                                                                                                          
         user = os.environ.get(name)                                                                                                                                                                                              
       File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/_collections_abc.py", line 824, in get                                                                                                                                                     
         return self[key]                                                                                                                                                                                                         
       File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/os.py", line 677, in __getitem__                                                                                                                                                           
         value = self._data[self.encodekey(key)]                                                                                                                                                                                  
       File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/os.py", line 756, in encode                                                                                                                                                                
         if not isinstance(value, str):                                                                                                                                                                                           
    RecursionError: maximum recursion depth exceeded while calling a Python object

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