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

Open Integrations in settings, look under AI, and you will find cards for OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, OpenRouter, and Replicate. Each connects the same way: the card links you to that provider's key page, you create a key, and you paste it into the box and click Connect. Once connected, agents can use that provider on your behalf, and the key never leaves your Mac for anywhere but the provider itself.

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.
• Your key is stored encrypted on this Mac and is only ever sent to that provider. It never enters an agent's chat, a terminal, or an environment variable.
• 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, leave the project as your default, and leave permissions on All. Click Create 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. Image generation is billed per picture, so the project needs a payment method on OpenAI. If you have never added one, do it under Settings → Billing on the same site.

When connected, the card names the image model it can use, for example "Image model ready". If it warns "This key works, but it cannot see any image model", the key's project has no image access or no billing. Add billing to that project and reconnect with a key from it.

Anthropic (build Claude-powered features)

Connecting Anthropic lets agents build and run Claude-powered features in your projects and call the API directly: Messages, model listing, token counting, and Batches for bulk work at half price. Note this is separate from your codus agent sessions, which keep running on your Claude login, not this key.

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. Voiceover is billed per character. A free tier works to try it; a paid plan gives you more characters.

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".

How do I know it worked?

Every one of these cards turns green and reads Connected, and most add a live detail read straight from your account (the model count, characters left, spend so far, or your username). That read-back is your proof the key is valid, not only saved.

Common problems

• OpenAI connected but cannot make images. The key works for chat but its project has no image access or no billing. Add a payment method to that project under Settings → Billing on OpenAI, then reconnect with a key from that project.
• 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).
• I want to disconnect. Click Disconnect on the provider's card and confirm. codus forgets the key; reconnect any time with a new one.