CampusKit does not ship with its own AI service. You bring access from a provider you already use, and every AI feature runs through it. No key means no AI, and everything else keeps working.
What a key unlocks
| Feature | Needs | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Syllabus import | Anthropic or OpenAI key | Free |
| Natural-language quick-add (⌘N) | Anthropic or OpenAI key | Free |
| Flashcard generation from notes | Anthropic or OpenAI key | Free |
| Ask AI chat | A key, or ChatGPT sign-in | Pro |
| MCP server | Nothing extra (your MCP client brings its own model) | Pro |
Add an API key
- Get a key from your provider:
- Anthropic: create one in the Anthropic Console. Keys start with
sk-ant-. - OpenAI: create one on the OpenAI platform. Keys start with
sk-.
- Anthropic: create one in the Anthropic Console. Keys start with
- In CampusKit open Settings and choose AI.
- Paste the key into the Anthropic or OpenAI row and save. The row shows Connected when the key is stored.
- If you add both, pick a Preferred provider. It is used whenever both are available.
Usage is billed by the provider at their normal API rates. A syllabus import or a quick-add costs a fraction of a cent to a few cents depending on the model.
Sign in with ChatGPT (experimental)
If you have a ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription you can run the Ask AI chat on it instead of an API key. In Settings, under AI, find Ask AI chat and click Connect next to Sign in with ChatGPT, then finish the sign-in in your browser.
Two things to know:
- This uses an unofficial sign-in flow and may stop working if OpenAI changes it.
- It powers the chat only. Syllabus import, quick-add and flashcards still need an API key.
Use Chat runs on in the same section to choose which provider answers chats: Automatic picks the first one available.
How keys are stored
Keys and tokens are encrypted with your operating system’s keychain (Keychain on macOS, Credential Manager on Windows) through Electron’s safe storage. They never reach the app’s web layer, are never written to the database in plain text, and are excluded from JSON exports and backups. Removing a key from Settings deletes it from the keychain.
Removing or rotating a key
Click Remove on the provider row, then paste the new key. Features that need a key show a short “add a key” hint until one is present again.
Next step
With a key in place, import your first syllabus, or if you are on Pro, open the Ask AI chat.