# Connect your AI

Every film is written and drawn by an AI director running on a model account you connect. You choose which.

## Why you connect your own

Anthropic's terms don't let Studio run other people's films on its own Claude plan, so each person brings theirs. Studio itself charges nothing.

## The ways to connect

**Claude Code**
Runs on your computer with your Claude plan. Studio gives you one command to paste into a terminal; it pairs that computer with your account. Your sign-in never leaves the computer.

**Codex**
Runs on your computer with your ChatGPT plan, paired the same way.

**An API key**
A key from console.anthropic.com or platform.openai.com. Studio checks it with its provider, keeps it encrypted, and never shows it again. The provider bills you as you use it.

## Pairing a computer

1. Choose Claude Code or Codex and press Get a pairing code.
2. Copy the command and run it in a terminal on the computer where you use that tool. The code works once; if it runs out, get a new one.
3. The screen changes from Waiting for your computer to Connected. Keep that computer on while your films are made.

## Changing or removing it

Settings, AI model, lists what you have connected. Choose another to use it, or remove one; a removed key is deleted from Studio.

Canonical page: https://surfstudio.app/docs/connect-your-ai