AI Helper setup — get an API key and configure it
AI Helper does not come with a model — you connect your own. That keeps JustZix free and puts you in control of which provider and which model you use. This guide takes you from "no key" to "working assistant" in a few minutes.
Why bring your own key
A built-in model would mean either a paid subscription or a shared rate limit for everyone. Instead, you use an API key from a provider you choose. You pay the provider directly for what you use, JustZix stays free, and you can pick the exact model you want. AI Helper supports OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini — you only need one to start.
Step 1 — get an API key
Pick a provider and create a key on its developer console:
| Provider | Console | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | platform.openai.com | API keys section |
| Anthropic | console.anthropic.com | API Keys |
| Gemini | Google AI Studio | Get API key |
An API key is not the same as a chat subscription. Some providers require a small prepaid balance or a billing method on the API side even if you already pay for their consumer chat product. Create the key, copy it once — most consoles show the full value only at creation time — and keep it somewhere safe.
Step 2 — open Settings → AI Helper
In JustZix, open Settings and find the AI Helper section. You will see a field for each provider's key:
AI Helper
OpenAI API key [ .................... ]
Anthropic API key [ .................... ]
Gemini API key [ .................... ]
Default provider ( OpenAI / Anthropic / Gemini )
Model [ live list ]Paste your key into the matching field. You can fill in one, two, or all three — there is no requirement to use every provider.
Step 3 — choose a default provider
The default provider is the one AI Helper uses when you open a fresh chat. If you only entered one key, that is your default automatically. If you entered several, pick the one you want as the everyday choice — you can still switch per-conversation later.
Step 4 — pick a model from the live list
The model picker is not a hardcoded dropdown. Once a valid key is saved, JustZix fetches the model list live from the provider, so you see exactly what your account can use — including new models the moment the provider releases them. The picker defaults to the top model in that list, which is a sensible starting point.
If the model list stays empty, the key is usually the problem: a typo, the wrong provider's field, or an account with no API access yet. Re-copy the key and check it landed in the right field.
Step 5 — switch providers inside the chat
With more than one key saved, the chat window itself has provider and model pickers. That means you can start a conversation on one provider, and if an answer is not what you want, switch to another and ask again — without going back to Settings. Handy when you want a second opinion on a tricky selector.
Choosing a model
You do not need the largest model for most JustZix work. Some rough guidance:
- Everyday CSS tweaks — a mid-tier fast model is plenty and cheap.
- Multi-step agentic work — building a rule, inspecting the DOM, testing in TEMP panes — a stronger model follows the workflow more reliably.
- Cost-sensitive — start small, upgrade only if answers are weak. You are billed per token by the provider.
What happens to the key
Keys are stored in chrome.storage.local on your device. Each key has a sync checkbox, off by default — leave it off and the key never leaves the machine; tick it and the key syncs to your other devices through the encrypted JustZix cloud channel. The reasoning behind that is in the keys and privacy post. API requests themselves go through the extension background worker, so the key never touches the page.
Quick test
Open any page, press Ctrl+Alt+\, and ask something simple like "what page am I on?". If the model answers with the page title and URL, your key, provider and model are wired up correctly and the page context is flowing.
See also
That is the whole setup. Download JustZix, drop in one API key, and AI Helper is ready on every tab.
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