Connect AI (free Gemini, Claude, or local)

Three ways, pick one

1. Gemini: free, fastest to set up (recommended to start)

1. Open the welcome (? button) → Connect AI, or Settings → API Keys.
2. Click the Gemini link. It opens Google AI Studio. Sign in and click Create API key. No credit card.
3. Paste the key into BGP and click Test & connect.

2. Claude: a paid cloud option

1. Get a key at console.anthropic.com. Check the provider's current pricing and trial terms.
2. Paste it into the Claude card or Settings → API Keys, then Test & connect.

3. Local: private, offline

1. Install Ollama (or LM Studio) on your computer and start it with a model. Ollama installs in your user space, with no admin rights needed.
2. In the Local card, or Settings → AI Engine → Advanced, enter the server address and model, then Test & connect. Ollama must be allowed to accept browser connections (set OLLAMA_ORIGINS=* once). LM Studio needs no extra setup.

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Switching engines

In Settings → AI Engine, Default AI provider picks Cloud or On my computer, and Cloud engine picks Google Gemini — free tier (Flash) or Claude — most capable (Sonnet, billed per call). If the engine you picked has no key, BGP uses the other one. The status card shows which engine is serving. For local setup details, see: Run AI on your own computer.

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Good to know

• Keys are stored only in your browser and used to call that provider directly. They never sync and never pass through BGP.
• You can use BGP without AI. The features that need it will be unavailable. The sample Day Ahead shows what you're missing.
• Free tiers have rate limits. If Gemini says "too many requests," wait a minute.
• An OpenAI key (Settings → API Keys) is used only for voice transcription in the Command Bar and, optionally, for semantic memory search. See Memories.