API Keys + Models

Station 3 — Keys and cost. Time: 12 min. Pass when you can explain what a key unlocks and why premium models cost more.

What this is

Before you paste any key, understand what it unlocks, what it can cost, and how to protect it. The diagram above shows the key lifecycle and the three model tiers.

An API key is like a temporary access card. Hermes uses it to call an AI model. If someone else gets your key, they may be able to spend credits or use services under that account. Treat it like a password.

Why it matters

Keys and models are where real money and real risk enter. A leaked key can be abused. The wrong model choice can be slow, weak, or expensive. Understanding both keeps you safe and in control.

What to do

Follow the office key policy for today:

• The key is temporary and for this workshop only.
• Do not share, screenshot, or paste it into public tools, GitHub, Discord, or WhatsApp.
• If you accidentally expose it, tell your facilitator immediately so it can be revoked.

Choose models by tier, not by hype:

• Budget — practice, summaries, drafts, simple tasks.
• Balanced — daily work, planning, research, tool use.
• Premium — hard reasoning or coding only. Overkill for practice.

Cost usually depends on how much text goes in and comes out, so keep prompts focused and avoid uploading huge files unless the demo needs it.

Common mistakes

• Reaching for a premium model for a task a budget model handles.
• Pasting a key into a chat "just to test it."
• Uploading long documents during practice and burning credits.

Next step

Go to Install Hermes Desktop.