Getting an AI API key takes about ten minutes from start to finish. The process is nearly identical across all major providers. Follow these seven steps and you'll have Maverick's AI chat working on your first project before the end of the day.
1. Choose an AI provider
OpenAI (GPT-4), Anthropic (Claude), and Google (Gemini) are the three most popular providers for Maverick users. If you're unsure where to start, OpenAI is a safe first choice — it has a wide model selection, pay-as-you-go pricing, and a free starting credit that covers initial experimentation at no cost.
2. Visit the provider's developer portal and create an account
Go to the provider's official developer or API portal and sign up with a business email address. Most providers require email verification before you can access API features. The signup process typically takes two to three minutes, and you won't need a credit card until you exceed any free tier.
3. Navigate to the API keys section
Once logged in, look for "API Keys," "Developers," or "Settings" in the navigation. Providers update their interfaces regularly, so the exact location may shift — but API key management is always reachable from your account settings or dashboard. If you're stuck, search the provider's help docs for "create API key."
4. Generate a new key
Click "Create new key" or "Add key." Give it a descriptive name — for example, "Maverick Production" — so you can identify it later among other keys in your account. The provider generates the key immediately after you confirm the name.
5. Copy the key before closing the dialog
Many providers show the full key only once — once you close the creation dialog, you cannot view it again. Copy it immediately and paste it into a temporary secure location, such as a password manager. If you lose it, you will need to revoke it and generate a new one.
6. Open Maverick and add the provider record
In Maverick, go to AI Providers and create a new provider record. Select the correct provider type from the dropdown, paste your API key into the key field, and save. Maverick encrypts and stores the key in your cloud environment — you won't need to re-enter it unless you rotate the key at the provider.
7. Test the connection with a simple prompt
Open any project and type a simple AI chat message: "Summarize this project in two sentences." If the AI responds correctly, your connection is working. If you see an authentication error, double-check that you copied the key without leading or trailing spaces, and that you selected the correct provider type in Maverick.