To connect your own AI provider, you need an API key or credentials from that provider. This article shows where each supported provider issues them.
You then paste the key into a new connection in AI Control Center > Providers and Models.
Example: a GRC team wants its AI Field Agents to run on the company's Anthropic account. The Administrator creates a key in Anthropic's console, adds a connection named Risk Assessment in Providers and Models, and pastes the key there.
Plan Availability | All plan types. |
Permissions | Workspace Administrators add provider keys in AI Control Center > Providers and Models. |
Platform | Web |
Related Reading |
OpenAI
Go to platform.openai.com/account/api-keys and sign in.
Select + Create new secret key.
Copy the key and store it safely. You cannot see it again.
Tip: OpenAI has personal and organization keys. Use the one that matches who pays for the usage.
Anthropic
Go to console.anthropic.com and sign in.
Open API Keys in the settings menu.
Select Create Key, give it a name and store it safely.
For production work, make sure your account belongs to an organization.
Google Gemini (Google AI Studio)
Go to Google AI Studio and sign in with your Google account.
Open API Access in the left menu.
Follow the prompts to create an API key in Google Cloud Console. The project needs the Generative Language API turned on.
Copy the key and store it safely.
For backend work, a service account with OAuth is an alternative.
Amazon Bedrock (AWS)
Open the AWS Console.
Switch to a region that offers Bedrock, such as us-east-1.
Open Bedrock in the services menu.
Use existing IAM credentials, an access key ID and secret access key. Or create an IAM user with a permission such as AmazonBedrockFullAccess and generate its credentials.
Store the credentials safely.
Bedrock does not use a classic API key. Requests are signed with AWS SigV4.
Azure OpenAI
Go to the Azure portal.
Open your Azure OpenAI resource.
Under Keys and Endpoint, copy the API key and the Endpoint URL. You need both.
Store them safely.
Your subscription must be approved for Azure OpenAI.
Note: If your Azure OpenAI deployment sits behind Azure API Management or another gateway, you need the gateway's endpoint and headers. See AI Control Center: Azure API Gateway Connections and Custom Headers.
Perplexity AI
Go to perplexity.ai and sign in.
Open Settings > API, if your account has it.
Enterprise users can ask their account manager or Perplexity support for access.
Perplexity's API access is limited. Its documentation is at docs.perplexity.ai.
Nscale (formerly Enscale)
Open your Nscale dashboard at console.nscale.io, if your account has one.
Go to Developer settings or API credentials.
Generate a new API key and store it safely.
IBM watsonx
Sign in at cloud.ibm.com.
Create a watsonx service instance.
Open Service credentials and select New credential.
Copy the API key from the JSON it creates.
watsonx uses IBM Cloud IAM keys. You also need the API Endpoint and the Project ID.
xAI (Grok)
Create an account at accounts.x.ai, or sign in. The console is at console.x.ai.
Follow the setup to create a team. Each team has its own members, keys and billing.
On the team's Billing page, add a payment method and buy credits. The API does not work without credits.
On the API Keys page, name the key and choose the endpoints and models it can use.
Copy the key and store it safely.
Access is self-serve, with no waitlist. Usage is charged per token, and the console's usage page shows what you used.
Keeping keys safe
Replace keys on a schedule, and at once if one may have been exposed. Update the connection in Providers and Models with the new key.
In the GRC example, the Administrator sets a reminder to replace the Anthropic key every 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I paste the key in SmartSuite?
Where do I paste the key in SmartSuite?
In AI Control Center > Providers and Models. Add a connection, choose the provider and model, and paste the key.
Who can see the key after I add it?
Who can see the key after I add it?
Only Workspace Administrators. Keys are encrypted, and members see connection names only.
Do I need my own key to try AI?
Do I need my own key to try AI?
No. Every workspace has a SmartSuite Trial Connection with 100 free requests and no key.
Who bills me for usage on my own key?
Who bills me for usage on my own key?
Your provider, under your agreement with it. SmartSuite does not sell AI credits.
Need more help? Ask the SmartSuite Community, where builders, administrators and the SmartSuite team answer questions about building on SmartSuite. For your account, billing or data, select the chat button in the lower-right corner of SmartSuite to reach support.
Last verified 1 Nov 2026.