Overview

Welcome to Pitt AI Connect, the University's centralized self-service platform for generating AI API keys and integrating leading AI models into your development projects and applications. AI Connect is built for Pitt researchers, faculty, staff, and software developers who want programmable access to AI APIs without having to set up separate accounts with each model provider.

AI Connect interfaces with Portkey, an LLM gateway that provides a single, consistent interface to numerous large language models. Pitt Digital provides the most common LLMs; more will be brought online as this program matures. API keys created in AI Connect work across all currently available AI models.

Using the AI Connect application to create projects and API keys is free. Charges apply only for AI model consumption, billed at the vendor-published rates at the time of use.

Who Can Use It

Beginning June 8, AI Connect is available to Pitt faculty, staff, and researchers who need programmable access to AI models for development work, research projects, course instruction, or administrative initiatives. AI Connect is intended for software developers and technical users; if you are looking for a chat-based AI assistant, see Understanding PittGPT, Claude for Education, or Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat instead.

Before You Begin

To create a project in AI Connect, gather the following information:

• A valid 32-digit University GL Account (PRISM account number) – see your Department Administrator for assistance
• Subcode 6490 – the subcode used for all AI Connect charges
• A Dashboard Group Name – an Active Directory (AD) group whose members will have access to the Cloud Billing and Usage Tableau Dashboard. Your RC Account Administrator can identify or create an appropriate AD group.
• The Pitt usernames for a Technical Contact (yourself or a technical staff member) and a Billing Contact
• A monthly budget for the project

Access

Browse to aiconnect.pitt.edu and sign in with your Pitt credentials. You may be required to complete multi-factor authentication through Pitt Passport.

Understanding Projects

AI Connect uses the concept of a project to organize and manage API keys. A project is the equivalent of a grant, an administrative initiative, or an academic course. One project can hold multiple API keys – for example, separate keys for each study within a grant or for each section of a course.

Projects provide a secure and centralized way to control access, track spending, and ensure that resources are used effectively. The AI Projects landing page lists existing projects along with budget and spend information, and a Details link to view each project record. The first time you sign in, the grid will indicate that no data exists.

Create a New Project

1. From the AI Projects landing page, click Create New Project.
2. Review the Preparer Information at the top of the form. This is populated automatically from your authenticated session and cannot be modified. The Preparer identifies the creator of the project record and API keys, even if the technical and billing contacts are different people.
3. In the Request Information portion of the form, complete the following fields:
   • Project Name – a name appropriate to the work for which you will be using the API.
   • Project Description – a clear description that distinguishes this project from others you may create.
   • Monthly Budget – the amount used to flag when spend approaches the budgeted amount. The system will prevent traffic when this limit is reached.
   • GL Account Number – a valid 32-digit University GL Account against which charges will be billed. Use Subcode 6490 for these charges.
   • Responsibility Center – your department or unit.
   • Dashboard Access Group – A security group whose members will be able to view the financials in Tableau
   • Technical Contact Pitt Username – the username for the primary technical user of the API key(s).
   • Billing Contact Pitt Username – the username for the primary billing/financial contact in case of billing issues.
4. Click Submit to save the project record and continue to creating an API key.

Important: The GL Account you provide must be authorized by your department's financial approver before AI Connect can bill against it. See the Approving Pitt AI Connect Funding article for details.

Create an API Key

The API Key section appears on the project record once the project has been saved. A link is provided to documentation on how to use the keys.

To generate a key:

1. Click the Generate Key button.
2. In the Generate API Key dialog box, review the terms and conditions and the AI Usage Rates link to the Models & Pricing page.
3. Enter a Key Alias – a short, descriptive name for this key.
4. Click Generate Key.
5. A confirmation message appears with the new key. Click Copy Key to copy it to your clipboard.

Important: This key needs to be copied and saved before you close this dialog box. The key cannot be retrieved after closing. Treat the key like a password.

6. Paste the key into a secure password manager such as 1Password.
7. Click Close in the confirmation dialog once the key has been saved.
8. The API Key table will display the new key's alias, creation date, and a delete icon. Generate additional keys as needed for this project.

Detailed instructions for using your API key in your code — including Claude Code configuration — are available in the AI Connect Documentation page at aiconnect.pitt.edu/Home/Documentation.

View and Edit Project Details

1. From the AI Projects menu, click Details on the project record you want to view.
2. The Project Details page appears in display-only mode, showing the data entered when the project was created along with any API keys. Use the left arrow icon at the top of the page to return to the AI Projects landing page.
3. To change project information, click the Edit Project button beneath the Keys grid.
4. Update fields as needed and click Submit to save.

Delete an API Key

API keys can be deleted if they are no longer needed. Deleting a key takes effect immediately and any applications using that key will lose access.

1. From the AI Projects landing page, click Details on the project that contains the key.
2. On the Project Details page, scroll to the API Keys grid.
3. Click the Delete icon next to the key you want to remove.
4. In the Delete API Key dialog box, confirm by clicking Delete.
5. Click Close on the confirmation dialog when the key has been deleted.

Best Practices

• Treat API keys like passwords — never paste them into shared documents, code repositories, chat messages, or email.
• Use a separate key for each application or integration.
• Set a Monthly Budget that reflects expected use; the system will send a warning message when the limit is approached.
• Use the Project Description to clearly distinguish the purpose of each project, especially if you maintain several.
• Delete keys you are no longer using.

Getting Help

For questions about Pitt AI Connect, submit a Pitt Technology Support service request through the Pitt IT service portal.