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How to set up your AI provider and API keys

Last updated June 10, 2026

uplads can write primary texts, headlines and descriptions for your ads with AI — but it uses your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key so you stay in control of cost and billing. This article walks through saving a key, testing it, picking a model, and rotating or removing it later.

You set all of this up in Configuration, in the AI text generation panel. Once a key is saved you can use AI copy generation inside the launch wizard — see How to generate ad copy with AI.

Choose between OpenAI and Anthropic

At the top of the panel are two tabs: OpenAI and Anthropic. You don't have to pick just one — you can save a key for both providers, and each shows a small Saved badge once a key is stored. When you generate copy, uplads uses whichever provider you've configured.

There's a direct link to each provider's key page right under the input, so you don't have to hunt for it.

Save an API key and test it

  1. Pick the provider tab (OpenAI or Anthropic).
  2. Paste your key into the API key field. Use the eye icon to reveal it if you want to double-check it before saving.
  3. Choose a Model (see below — a sensible default is pre-selected).
  4. Click Save key.

When you save, uplads doesn't just store the key — it sends a tiny ping probe to the provider to confirm the key actually works and the chosen model is available. If the key is valid you'll see "key saved & verified". If the provider rejects it, you get the exact error back (for example a 401 for a bad key) so you can fix it immediately rather than discovering the problem mid-launch.

Once a key is saved, two more buttons appear:

  • Test connection — re-runs the same ping probe on demand, so you can confirm a stored key still works at any time.
  • Remove key — deletes the stored key (covered below).

The saved key is shown masked (only the last four characters) with an Encrypted badge — the full key is never sent back to your browser after you save it.

Pick a model per provider

Each provider has its own Model dropdown. The first option is the recommended default, which is selected automatically.

OpenAI:

  • GPT-4o — best quality, slower
  • GPT-4o mini — fast and cheap
  • GPT-4.1
  • GPT-4.1 mini

Anthropic:

  • Claude Sonnet 4.5 — recommended
  • Claude Opus 4.5 — highest quality
  • Claude Haiku 4.5 — fast and cheap

As a rule of thumb, cheaper models are faster but a little less creative. If you only want to change the model on a key you've already saved, just pick a new model and click Update model — you don't need to re-enter the key.

Rotate or remove a saved key

To rotate a key (for example after revoking the old one with your provider), paste the new key into the same field — the placeholder reads "Paste a new key to replace…" — and click Replace key. uplads verifies the new key the same way it verifies a first-time save.

To remove a key entirely, click Remove key. The stored key is deleted and the provider's Saved badge disappears. AI generation for that provider will stop working until you add a key again.

How keys are encrypted and billed

Your API keys are encrypted with AES-256-GCM using a server-side key before they ever reach the database. The raw key is never logged, is never sent back to your browser after saving, and is only decrypted in memory for the moment a generation request runs.

Just as important: uplads never proxies your AI requests. Calls go straight from our server to OpenAI or Anthropic using your key, so usage is billed directly to your own provider account — there's no markup. You can still keep an eye on spend inside uplads with AI usage tracking and an optional monthly spend cap.

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