Bring your own AI key, cloud or local
TimeToBuild lets you bring your own AI key. Pasted keys work for all cloud providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and OpenRouter, whether the key is personal or company issued. You can also run local models through Ollama and LM Studio. AI requests go directly from your Mac to the provider you choose.
What does AI providers do?
- Accepts pasted keys for all cloud providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and OpenRouter.
- Works with personal or company-issued keys.
- Runs local models through Ollama and LM Studio for a fully local option.
- Offers OAuth sign-in for OpenAI and Google, in addition to pasted keys.
- Sends AI requests directly from your Mac to the provider you configure.
How it works
- 1
Choose a provider
In Settings, pick a cloud provider such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or OpenRouter, or a local runner like Ollama or LM Studio.
- 2
Add your key or sign in
Paste your API key for any cloud provider. For OpenAI and Google you can sign in with OAuth instead. For local models, point TimeToBuild at Ollama or LM Studio.
- 3
Use AI features
Once configured, features like natural-language issue creation and activity summaries call your provider directly from your Mac.
AI providers FAQ
Which AI providers does TimeToBuild support?
You can paste an API key for any of the cloud providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and OpenRouter, and the key can be personal or company issued. For a fully local setup, TimeToBuild works with Ollama and LM Studio, so the models run on your own machine. OAuth sign-in is available for OpenAI and Google as an alternative to pasting a key. This range lets you match TimeToBuild to whatever AI access your team already has.
Where do my AI requests go?
AI requests go directly from your Mac to the provider you configure. TimeToBuild does not route your prompts through its own servers. If you use a cloud provider, your request goes to that provider using your key. If you use a local runner like Ollama or LM Studio, the request never leaves your machine. This gives you a clear answer to where issue content is sent: only to the provider you have chosen.
Can I use a company-issued API key?
Yes. Pasted keys work for all cloud providers whether they are personal or company issued, so if your organization gives you an Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or OpenRouter key, you can paste it into TimeToBuild and use it. This is useful when your company manages AI access centrally and wants usage billed to its own account. If you would rather sign in, OAuth is available for OpenAI and Google.