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Transition Guide
Add provider API keys to unlock Routing cost savings.
Every additional provider key you add gives ASURIQ Routing more options for where to send your queries. More options means lower costs and better model-task matching. DeepSeek and Gemini are the highest-value additions.
Difficulty
Moderate
Unlocks
Lower cost per query · More model options for Routing · Panel mode with 3+ providers · Access to specialized models (reasoning, code, search-grounded)
1Understand what API keys are
An API key is a password-like string that lets ASURIQ send queries to an AI provider on your behalf. You generate them from each provider’s developer dashboard. You pay the provider directly for usage. ASURIQ just routes to the cheapest appropriate model.
You own your keys. ASURIQ never stores them on our servers. With BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys), keys stay in your browser’s local storage or your MCP vault. We route. You pay your providers directly.
2Add DeepSeek (biggest cost savings)
DeepSeek’s flash model handles simple queries at $0.14/Mtok, roughly 7x cheaper than Claude Haiku and 70x cheaper than GPT-4.
Get a key: Visit platform.deepseek.com, create an account, and generate an API key. Add credit ($5 minimum). DeepSeek charges per-token with no monthly subscription.
3Add Gemini (search-grounded answers)
Gemini’s models are backed by Google Search grounding, which gives them recency advantages on current events. Flash 2.5 at $0.15/Mtok is competitive with DeepSeek on cost.
Get a key: Visit aistudio.google.com/apikey. Google gives generous free tier allowances. The API key works immediately.
4Add your keys to ASURIQ
In the ASURIQ extension settings, or via the API, register each provider key. ASURIQ validates the key works before saving it.
Extension: Click the ASURIQ icon in your toolbar → Settings → Provider Keys
MCP: Use the routing-keys tool to add/list/remove provider keys
API: POST /api/v1/routing/keys with your provider and key
MCP: Use the routing-keys tool to add/list/remove provider keys
API: POST /api/v1/routing/keys with your provider and key
5Let Routing do its job
With multiple provider keys configured, ASURIQ Routing automatically selects the cheapest model that will produce quality output for each query. Simple factual questions go to DeepSeek flash. Nuanced analysis goes to Claude Sonnet. Code generation goes to the model with the best code benchmarks. You stop thinking about which model to use.
The value chain: Each additional provider key gives Routing more options. More options means better cost-quality tradeoffs. Most users find that adding DeepSeek alone saves enough on API costs to cover the Routing BYOK subscription ($13/mo) with room to spare.