How to add your own AI key
Bring your own Gemini, OpenAI, or Anthropic key so AI replies run on your account, billed transparently, with full control over the model.
- 1
Get an API key from your AI provider
Create an account with Google AI Studio (Gemini), OpenAI, or Anthropic, and generate an API key from their dashboard. This step happens on the provider's site, not in Talko AI.
- 2
Open the AI Hub
In your Talko AI portal, go to AI Hub → AI provider & key.
- 3
Choose your provider and model
Pick Gemini, OpenAI, or Anthropic (Claude) from the dropdown. A sensible default model is pre-filled (for example gemini-2.5-flash or gpt-4o-mini) — change it only if you know you want a different one.
- 4
Paste your key and save
Enter your API key and click "Validate & save". Talko AI checks the key works before saving it, and encrypts it at rest.
- 5
Confirm it's connected
The status pill should read "Connected · {provider} · {key hint}". From here, every channel you've connected will start replying using this key.
Your AI key is billed directly by your provider, not marked up by Talko AI, and used only for chat replies — the platform's own document search (finding the right paragraph of your knowledge base) runs separately and doesn't touch your key or its cost.
Common questions
Which provider should I choose?
Any of the three work well. Gemini and GPT-4o-mini are usually the cheapest for high message volume; Anthropic's Claude models are a common pick for teams who want a specific tone or more careful reasoning. You can switch later without losing your flows or knowledge base.
What happens if I remove my key?
AI auto-replies stop for your workspace until you add a new one — nothing else about your setup (channels, flows, contacts) is affected.
Is my key visible to anyone else?
No — it's encrypted at rest and only a short hint (like the last few characters) is ever shown back to you in the portal.
Keep going
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