AI Provider

Atomus uses AI to turn raw captures into clean atoms and to help during reviews. You bring your own key, so you control the costs and the data goes directly from your Mac to the provider you chose.

How it works

Your API key is stored encrypted in the macOS Keychain. When Atomus needs the AI, it calls the provider straight from your machine. No middle server, no telemetry, no copies anywhere else.

If you don't add a key, Atomus still works. You'll write your atoms by hand and reviews stay rule-based.

Supported providers

• OpenAI (recommended). Works with any GPT model your key has access to.
• More providers are on the way.

Add your OpenAI key

1. Open Settings → AI Provider.
2. Pick OpenAI from the dropdown.
3. Paste your key. It starts with sk-.
4. Click Save. Atomus runs a quick test call to confirm the key works.

Don't have a key yet? Follow the steps below.

Get an OpenAI API key

1. Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys and sign in (or create an account).
2. Click Create new secret key, give it a name like Atomus, and copy it. OpenAI only shows the key once.
3. Add some credit in Billing. The API is pay-as-you-go and separate from ChatGPT Plus, so your Plus subscription won't work here.
4. Paste the key in Atomus.

A few dollars go a long way. A typical user spends well under $1 a month on extraction and review assistance.

Full walkthrough from OpenAI: Where do I find my API key?

Common issues

• "Invalid API key": the key was typed wrong or revoked. Create a new one and paste it again.
• "Insufficient quota": the key works, but the account has no credit. Add funds in Billing.
• Slow responses: the provider is under load. Atomus will retry once, then fall back to letting you write the atom by hand.

Privacy

Your key never leaves your Mac except to talk to the provider you selected. Atomus does not proxy, log, or analyze prompts. You can revoke the key any time from the OpenAI dashboard and the integration stops instantly.