# AI models

> Set the model new chats start on, choose which models people can pick, and add your own provider keys so your provider bills calls once credits run out.

Source: https://orbitalaip.com/docs/workspace-and-account/ai-models

## Open the AI Models page

**AI Models** applies to the whole [workspace](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/glossary#workspace). Only [workspace owners and admins](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/workspace-and-account/members-and-roles#workspace-roles) see it, in the avatar menu and in Settings.

Click your avatar at the foot of the sidebar and choose **AI Models** under **Workspace**, or go to [app.orbitalaip.com/settings/workspace/ai-models](https://app.orbitalaip.com/settings/workspace/ai-models). Anyone else who opens the link sees **Admins only**.

## The providers

Six providers are listed as cards: **OpenAI**, **Anthropic**, **Google Gemini**, **xAI Grok**, **DeepSeek** and **Perplexity**. Each card shows **Manage** and whether the workspace has its own key:

- **Not configured**: no key is saved. Unless you turned off **Use included plan credits**, the provider's models that your plan includes run on your [credits](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/glossary#credits).

- **Connected**, followed by the key's last four characters: a key is saved.

Orbital offers no Perplexity models to pick. Click a card to open that provider's page.

## Choose the default model

**Default model**, at the top of the page, is the model every new chat starts on. So do a new agent's setup conversation and any workflow AI step that has no model of its own.

1. **Open the list**
   
   In **Default model**, click the current model's name.

2. **Pick another model**
   
   The change saves at once.

The list holds models that are shown, that your plan includes, and that can use tools, which Chat needs. Until a workspace owner or admin picks one, the default is **Grok 4.6**, or **GPT-5.6 Luna** on a plan without Grok 4.6.

Existing chats keep their own model, which the model button in the composer changes, as [Chat](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/chat/overview#the-model-picker) describes. Workflow steps without a model of their own use a new default from their next run.

### Agents use their own model

Each agent runs on its own model, set under **Model** in its settings or, once setup is done, with the model button in its composer. The workspace default does not change it. A new agent starts on **GPT-5.6 Luna**, and its setup may pick a model better suited to the job. See [Set up an agent](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/agents/set-up-an-agent).

## Choose which models appear

On a provider's page, **Models shown** lists that provider's models, each with its price and a switch. Turn a switch off to hide that model from every model picker in the workspace. Chats, agents and workflow steps that already use it keep running on it.

The default model's switch stays locked until you choose another default.

## What your own key changes

With **Use included plan credits** on, calls spend your plan's included credits first, then any you bought. When none are left, calls to a provider with a saved key switch to that key on their own, and the provider bills you directly.

When credits run out, a banner across the app says so and offers **Reload credits**. When workflows need a missing key, it also offers **Connect your keys**. Calls return to credits once you have some again.

A saved key serves everyone in the workspace, in every [project](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/glossary#project), and your plan's request limits still apply. [Credits and billing](https://orbitalaip.com/docs/workspace-and-account/credits-and-billing#usage) explains where to see what your keys spent.

## Add your own provider key

> [!NOTE] Depends on your plan
> Not every plan includes your own keys. Without them, **Add key** is greyed out, the page offers **View plans**, and any key saved earlier is ignored.

1. **Open the provider**
   
   On **AI Models**, click the provider's card, for example **Anthropic**.

2. **Create a key**
   
   **Get key** opens the provider's site, and **How to connect Anthropic** shows the steps and the key's format. Most providers need billing or prepaid credit before a key works.

3. **Paste it**
   
   Click **Add key**, paste the key into **API key**, and add a **Label (optional)** if you like.

4. **Save it**
   
   Click **Save key**. Orbital checks the key with the provider and shows the result.

Orbital stores the key encrypted, and it cannot be viewed again. The check ends in one of three results:

- **Anthropic key saved and verified**: the provider accepted the key.

- **Key saved, but Anthropic rejected it**: check that you pasted the whole, current key, then click **Replace key**.

- If Orbital cannot reach the provider, it says the key is saved but not yet verified. Click **Test** later.

## Test, replace or remove a key

**Test** asks the provider to check the saved key. It answers **Key is valid**, **Provider rejected this key** (get a fresh key), or **Couldn't reach Anthropic** (try again shortly).

Each provider holds one key per workspace. To swap in a new key:

1. **Click Replace key**
   
   

2. **Paste the new key**
   
   Click **Replace key** at the bottom of the form. The old key is replaced at once.

To remove a key:

1. **Click the bin icon**
   
   It sits after **Replace key**.

2. **Confirm**
   
   The prompt warns that workflows and agents using the provider will fail.

In fact they run on credits while you have them, and fail once credits run out, or straight away if **Use included plan credits** is off.

## Run on your own keys only

**Use included plan credits** appears when your plan includes your own keys, and is on by default. Turn it off to run every AI call on your own keys: a call to a provider without a key then fails. Backtests in a priced project still spend credits, because no provider key can pay for them.

> [!WARNING] Web search and documents stop too
> With the switch off, web search and processing or searching the documents you upload stop working. They run on Orbital's own accounts, and this page cannot take keys for their search and embedding providers.

If the switch is off and your plan stops including your own keys, every AI call stops, and the page shows **AI calls are paused**. Turn the switch back on to resume.