Every plan includes AI replies. If you would rather use your own AI account, you can add an API key from your provider. AI replies then go through your key, you pay the provider directly, and those replies do not count against the plan’s AI quota.
Supported providers
OpenRouter, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Groq, and Google Gemini. You pick the model.
Add your key
Only workspace owners and admins can add or change the key.
- Create an API key in your provider’s dashboard and make sure the account has credit or billing set up.
- In VivaDialog, open Settings and scroll to the AI replies card. Under Your own AI key, choose the provider.
- Enter the model id as your provider writes it on its models page.
- Paste the API key and click Save key.
- Click Test key. VivaDialog sends one very short request with your key. If the provider refuses it, you see the provider’s own error message, which usually says whether the key, the model id, or the account balance is the problem.
Once saved, the key is never shown again, not even in part. It is stored encrypted and only used to send AI requests to the provider you picked.
What changes when your key is on
- AI replies from rules and AI reply drafts in the inbox both use your key.
- They do not use the plan’s AI reply quota or its AI usage limit. The cost is whatever your provider charges.
- The AI follows the same instructions as with the built-in AI: it answers only from the facts in the rule, and replies go through the same filter and length limit.
If your key stops working
VivaDialog does not fall back to the built-in AI. When your provider refuses a request, for example because the balance ran out or the key was deleted, that AI reply is not sent. The rule’s History shows that the AI provider returned an error. If the rule also has a fixed-text reply after the AI reply, that fixed text still goes out.
To see the provider’s exact message, click Test key in Settings. Test again after fixing the problem on the provider’s side.
Turn off, replace, or remove
- Turn off keeps the key saved but sends AI replies through the plan quota again. Turn on switches back.
- Replace key lets you enter a new key or a different provider or model. The new key is on right away; test it again.
- Remove deletes the key. AI replies go back to the plan quota.
Your data
With your own key, the text of the customer message and the rule’s instructions go to the provider you chose, under that provider’s terms. Check its data retention and training settings in your provider account. When a workspace’s data is deleted, the saved key is deleted with it.
A workspace that has turned read-only does not send AI replies, with or without your own key. See the free trial and read-only mode.
For how AI replies are written and what the plan quota covers, see AI replies and your quota.