What Are API Keys?
An API key is your personal access pass to an AI service. It lets external apps — like AIDO — connect to AI providers on your behalf.
The Simple Explanation
Think of an API key like a password that lets your assistant talk to the AI. When you use ChatGPT or Claude directly on their websites, you're talking to the AI through their interface. But when you want an external tool like AIDO to talk to the AI for you, it needs an API key to do so.
Why Do You Need One?
AIDO is not an AI itself — it's an intelligent assistant that uses AI services (like OpenAI's GPT or Anthropic's Claude) to understand and respond to messages. To access these AI services, AIDO needs your personal API key.
- Your API key connects AIDO to the AI provider of your choice
- It's used outside of ChatGPT or Claude chat interfaces
- You control which AI service your assistant uses
- Usage is billed directly to your AI provider account (pay per use)
Screenshot needed: Simple diagram showing: You → AIDO → (API Key) → AI Provider (OpenAI/Anthropic). Show the flow of a message going from the user through AIDO, authenticated by the API key, to the AI service and back.
Is It Safe?
Yes, as long as you keep your key private. Your API key is stored securely in your personal AIDO instance, which runs on a dedicated server that only you have access to.