Orion's agent needs an AI model to think with. On free access you connect your own API key, and your provider bills you for what the agent uses. AJ Projects charges nothing and never sees your bill.

An API key is not a chat subscription. A Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus subscription doesn't include API access. You need a key from the provider's developer console, with a payment method or credits on that account.

Pick a provider

Claude (Anthropic)

  1. Sign in to the Claude Console (Anthropic's, at platform.claude.com) and add a payment method or credits under Settings → Billing.
  2. Open Settings → API keys and create a key. Copy it now: it's shown once.
  3. Open Settings → Limits and, under Spend limits, set a monthly limit you're comfortable with.

OpenRouter

  1. Sign in to OpenRouter and add credits.
  2. Open Keys and create a key. You can give the key its own credit limit there.

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

  1. Sign in to the OpenAI Platform (not chatgpt.com) and set up billing.
  2. Open API keys and create a secret key. Copy it now.
  3. Open your organization's Limits and set a monthly budget.

Connect it in Orion

  1. Sign in to Orion with the link we emailed you.
  2. Open Your AI key, choose the provider, paste the key and press Test key. Only a successful answer from the provider counts as working.
  3. After you save it, Orion shows only the last four characters.

How your key is kept

Your key is encrypted, tied to your sign-in, used only for your own chats, and never shown to anyone, including other people using the demo. It's deleted when you press Remove my key, when you delete your account, or automatically on day 45. See removing your key.

Provider screens change. If a step above doesn't match what you see, the provider's own help explains where API keys and limits live.