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Choose who pays for AI generation

Decide whether everyone generates AI output with the shared workspace keys or each person brings their own key. Reading existing AI output is never affected.

Updated in AI & assistant

Overview

Every time MetaLens360 generates something new with AI — a drift report, an assistant answer, a change narrative — someone's API key pays for it. Who pays for AI generation in Settings → AI Providers decides whose:

OptionWhat it means
Shared — use the workspace keysNobody configures anything. Everyone generates with the keys an administrator set up. Usage is still recorded per person.
Own keys — each person brings their ownGenerating requires a key the individual owns. Nothing is inherited from an administrator, so every request is attributable to whoever made it.

A chip shows the current mode: SHARED KEYS or OWN KEYS REQUIRED.

Before you start

  • Changing the mode needs the Manage AI providers & chain permission (Admin and Architect by default).
  • For shared mode, make sure the workspace has working provider keys. See Configure AI providers.

Steps

  1. Open Settings → AI Providers.
  2. Find the Who pays for AI generation panel near the top.
  3. While on shared keys, read the warning below the options. It names each person who used AI in the last 30 days and has no key of their own — they would lose the ability to generate if you switch.
  4. Click the option you want. The change applies straight away; there is no separate save.
  5. If you switched to own keys, tell your team to add their own key before they next generate AI output.

Add your own key

When the workspace requires own keys, the status banner reads AI generation is not enabled for you until you have one.

  1. Click Add your key in the banner (or in any AI feature that asks for it).
  2. Choose a provider, paste your key, and save. Your key is stored encrypted and is used only for your requests.
  3. Check that the banner now reads AI enabled for you.

Example

Acme's platform team wants AI costs to land on each team's own provider account. Priya, an Admin, checks the warning: two developers have no key. She asks them to add one, then selects Own keys — each person brings their own. Their existing drift reports stay readable throughout.

FAQs

Will people lose access to AI summaries if I switch to own keys?

No. They can still read every summary, insight and analysis already generated. Only producing something new needs their own key.

Can I see who used how much AI?

Yes. Usage is recorded per person in both modes. See Diagnostics → AI Usage & Intelligence in Use the diagnostics console.

What is the "Platform default" line?

Platform administrators can set the mode used by workspaces that haven't chosen one, with Switch default to ….

Troubleshooting

"… needs a key of your own"

You are in an own-keys workspace and have no key. The message continues: "Everything already generated stays readable — this only affects producing something new. Add a key under Settings, AI Providers." Click Add your key.

I can't click the options

You have read-only access to AI settings. Ask an Admin, or see Fix permission denied errors.

AI still fails after adding my key

Your key may be invalid or rate limited. Re-paste it and try again, or add a second provider. See Fix AI provider not configured errors.

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