# AI provider setup

Connect an AI provider for scratchpad actions, document summaries, and project suggestions.

## Connect a provider

One connection powers scratchpad actions, [document summaries](/guide/knowledge/documents/#summarise-a-document), and [project description and tag suggestions](/guide/projects/managing-projects/#suggest-a-description-and-tags).

1. Open **Settings → Connections** in the desktop app.
2. Find **Scratchpad AI** and choose an available provider.
3. Use the prefilled model or enter an exact model ID offered by that provider.
4. Enter its API key.
5. Select **Verify and save**.

Use the provider's model link to find the correct ID for a custom model. After verification, the connection status shows your saved provider and model.

Your provider account controls API availability, limits, and billing. An Orbit Pro licence does not configure an AI provider account for you.

## Generate and review actions

Open a project's **Overview**, write notes in the scratchpad, and select **Generate actions**. Review the proposed links, documents, cards, and project details. Edit fields, choose a list for each card, and deselect unwanted actions before **Save selected actions**.

Saving suggestions keeps the original notes unless you select **Remove from scratchpad**. When available, that option removes the source notes for the actions you save. Proposed name and description changes replace those project fields, so review them as carefully as task creation.

## What is sent

Each AI feature shares different context with your selected provider:

- **Scratchpad actions:** scratchpad text, project name, description, status, tags, available statuses, and task lists.
- **Document summaries:** the selected document's title and body.
- **Project suggestions:** the draft name, description, and tags; repository names and identifiers; linked-folder names and repository identifiers; and package names, descriptions, and keywords from root `package.json` and `composer.json` files in linked folders.

Ordinary note-taking and saving do not use AI. Keep credentials in Secrets, and review the text and source information you are sharing before requesting AI output.

The AI connection differs from [local MCP](/guide/integrations/mcp/): these features return suggestions or summaries for you to review, while an MCP client can use workspace tools directly within its permissions.

## Change or disconnect

Return to Scratchpad AI settings to select a different provider or model, enter the required key, and select **Verify and save**. If verification fails, the saved connection stays unchanged; correct the reported problem and try again.

Remove the AI connection when you no longer want to use it. You can still write notes. **Generate actions** can also suggest a link when the scratchpad contains only a single URL; suggestions from mixed notes require a connected provider.