---
title: "Setting up AI"
description: "What AI does in Scrumptious, why you use your own key, and which option to pick."
url: https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-setup/
site: "ScrumptiousWP"
---

# Setting up AI

AI in Scrumptious is **optional**. Everything works without it; AI makes [Paste & Parse](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/paste-and-parse/) much better at reading messy recipe text.

## Bring your own key

Scrumptious doesn’t sell AI credits or meter your use. You connect **your own account** with an AI provider and pay the provider directly, at their normal prices.

- Recipes and keys never pass through ScrumptiousWP. Requests go straight from your site to your provider.
- There’s no Scrumptious usage limit.
- A typical recipe costs well under one US cent with the model picked for you. See [AI models and cost](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-models/).

## What AI does in Scrumptious

- **[Paste & Parse](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/paste-and-parse/)** — turns pasted recipe text into a filled-in recipe, including course, cuisine and diet.
- **[Import from a link](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/import-from-url/)** (Scrumptious Pro) — reads pages without recipe data, and fills in a course, cuisine or diet the page left out.
- **[Suggest with AI](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/taxonomies/#let-ai-suggest-them)** — suggests course, cuisine and diet for any recipe.

## Where to set it up

**Recipes → Settings**, then scroll down to **AI (bring your own key)**.

## Which option should I choose?

| Option | Best for | Set-up |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **OpenRouter** (recommended) | Most people. One account gives you models from Google, OpenAI, Anthropic and others. | One click: **Connect OpenRouter**. No key to copy. [Guide](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-openrouter/) |
| **Google Gemini** | You already use Google AI Studio. Gemini has a free tier with limits. | Paste a key. [Guide](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-api-keys/#google-gemini) |
| **OpenAI** | You already have an OpenAI API account. | Paste a key. [Guide](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-api-keys/#openai) |
| **Anthropic (Claude)** | You already have an Anthropic API account. | Paste a key. [Guide](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-api-keys/#anthropic) |
| **WordPress AI** | Your site already has an AI provider connected under **Settings → Connectors** (WordPress 7.0+). | Nothing to set up. [Guide](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-wordpress/) |
| **No AI** | You’re happy with the built-in parser. | — |

**Note:** A ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro or Gemini app subscription is **not** an API account. API access is billed separately by each provider.

## The settings, top to bottom

- **Connect OpenRouter** / **Reconnect OpenRouter** — one-click connection. See [OpenRouter](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-openrouter/).
- **Use** — which provider Scrumptious uses. A provider with a saved key shows *— key saved (sk-or…1234)*.
- **… API key** fields — one per provider. Keys are never shown again after saving; the box says *Saved — paste a new key to replace it*. Tick **Remove** to delete a saved key. Each has a **Get a … key →** link to the provider’s key page.
- **Model** — leave empty for the automatic choice, or type to pick any model your key can use. See [AI models and cost](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-models/).
- **Save AI settings** — saves this section (it has its own button, separate from the main settings).
- **Test the connection** — appears once AI is set up. Sends a tiny request and reports *It works! … answered using …* or the error.

## Related

- [Connect OpenRouter](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-openrouter/)
- [Using a Gemini, OpenAI or Anthropic key](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-api-keys/)
- [AI privacy and security](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-privacy/)
- [Troubleshooting AI](https://scrumptiouswp.com/help/ai-troubleshooting/)