How do I connect OpenAI, Anthropic, or another AI provider?

Open Integrations in settings, look under AI, and find the card for OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, OpenRouter, Replicate, or HeyGen. Follow the card's link to create a provider API key, paste it into the credential field and click Connect. This authorises supported tools to use that account. It does not select the coding agent, change a terminal's login or include the provider's charges in your Codus licence.

Before you start

• Each of these is a paste a key connection, not a browser sign-in. You make a key on the provider's website and paste it back into codus.
• Every provider bills its own way. Connecting a key means calls are charged to your account with that provider.
• Use the credential field, not chat or a project file. Codus stores integration credentials locally and supplies them to the supported tools or processes that need them. Do not assume a credential can never reach a process or environment; grant only the access needed for the work and revoke exposed keys at the provider.
• To remove any of these later, click Disconnect on its card and confirm.

OpenAI (images for video, and the rest of the API)

Connecting OpenAI lets codus generate and edit images for your videos (GPT Image) and call the rest of the OpenAI API.

1. On the OpenAI card, click Open OpenAI API keys page (platform.openai.com/api-keys).
2. Click Create new secret key. Sign in first if asked.
3. Name it codus, choose the project that should pay for the work, and grant the permissions needed by the tools you intend to use. Create the secret key.
4. Copy the key (it starts with sk-). OpenAI shows it once.
5. Paste it into the box on the card and click Connect.
6. Check API billing and limits for that project. A ChatGPT subscription and OpenAI API billing are separate; use the current API billing page to confirm costs before generating images.

When connected, the card reports the image model it can detect. A warning that the key cannot see an image model is a reason to check the selected project, model access, permissions and API billing. It is not proof that buying more credit is the only fix.

Anthropic (build Claude-powered features)

Connecting Anthropic lets supported tools build and run Claude-powered features in your projects through its API, including messages and batch work. This integration does not replace the login used by an existing coding-agent terminal. Check the provider's current API pricing and limits for the work you request.

1. On the Anthropic card, click Open Anthropic API keys (console.anthropic.com/settings/keys).
2. Create an API key and copy it (it starts with sk-ant-).
3. Paste it into the box on the card and click Connect. Calls bill your Anthropic account per token.

When connected, the card shows how many models the key can see, for example "Connected · 8 models".

ElevenLabs (voiceovers for video)

Connecting ElevenLabs lets codus generate natural voiceovers for your videos (text to speech).

1. On the ElevenLabs card, click Open ElevenLabs API keys page (elevenlabs.io/app/settings/api-keys).
2. Sign in if asked, then click Create API Key. Name it codus and create it.
3. Copy the key, paste it into the box on the card, and click Connect.
4. Check the account's available allowance and the selected voice/model's costs. Subscription access, API permissions and remaining usage can differ.

When connected, the card shows your plan tier and how many characters you have left this period, for example "Connected · Starter" with "42,000 characters left this period".

OpenRouter (one key for hundreds of models)

Connecting OpenRouter gives agents one key that reaches OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Mistral, DeepSeek, and more behind a single API, so they can compare models or route bulk work to cheaper ones.

1. On the OpenRouter card, click Open OpenRouter keys (openrouter.ai/keys).
2. Create a key (it starts with sk-or-) and top up a little credit.
3. Paste the key into the box on the card and click Connect. Calls spend your OpenRouter credit at each model's listed price.

When connected, the card shows your spend so far, for example "Connected · $1.20 used".

Replicate (run open ML models)

Connecting Replicate lets agents run open machine-learning models by API: image generation, video, music and audio, transcription, upscaling, and background removal.

1. On the Replicate card, click Open Replicate API tokens (replicate.com/account/api-tokens).
2. Create an API token (it starts with r8_) and copy it.
3. Paste it into the box on the card and click Connect. Runs bill your Replicate account per second of compute.

When connected, the card shows your username, for example "Connected · @yourname".

HeyGen (AI avatar videos)

Connecting HeyGen lets codus generate AI avatar and talking-head videos from a script on your own HeyGen account, and browse your avatars and voices.

1. On the HeyGen card, click Open HeyGen API settings (app.heygen.com/settings?nav=API).
2. Sign in if asked, then create an API key, or copy your existing one.
3. Paste it into the box on the card and click Connect.
4. Check API access and the balance shown for the connected account before rendering. Website-plan access does not by itself prove that an API render is covered; follow the provider's current billing guidance if a request reports insufficient balance.

When connected, the card shows your account email and wallet balance, for example "Connected · [email protected] · $125.50". Video generation runs in the background: agents start the render, then wait for it to finish before handing you the file.

How do I know it worked?

The card reports Connected after its connection check, usually with an account detail such as a model count, allowance or username. Then try a small, intended operation. A successful connection check does not guarantee access to every model or endpoint. See integration usage and balances.

Common problems

• OpenAI connected but cannot make images. Read the actual error and check the key's project, image-model access, permissions, API billing and limits. Do not add a second paid account simply because a model is unavailable.
• The box would not accept my key. Paste the full key with no trailing spaces. OpenAI keys start with sk-, Anthropic with sk-ant-, OpenRouter with sk-or-, and Replicate tokens with r8_.
• My calls fail with a billing or credit error. These providers charge your own account. Make sure the account has billing set up (OpenAI, Anthropic, Replicate) or credit topped up (OpenRouter, ElevenLabs, HeyGen).
• I want to disconnect. Click Disconnect on the provider's card and confirm. codus forgets the key; reconnect any time with a new one.