tafazalQ: Using native built in Ai
How do I use the native built-in AI in Spellar?
I haven’t connected any external AI provider or added an API key, but I’m seeing this message:
“Your AI provider account has run out of credits. Check your provider's billing, or remove the key in Settings to use Spellar built-in AI.”
Since I haven’t added any external provider, I’m not sure why this message appears. How can I switch to or use Spellar’s built-in AI?
Thank you
Taf
Anastasiia_Spellar
Jun 17, 2026A: Hi Taf — thanks for reaching out, and I can clear this up.
That message actually only appears when an AI provider key is connected to your account — most likely an OpenAI or Perplexity key (that specific "out of credits" wording comes straight from those providers' API). It was probably added at some point you may not recall — during onboarding, on the web app, or on another device. So even though it doesn't feel like it, there's a key on the account, and the provider account behind it has run out of credits.
To check and fix it:
1. Go to Settings → Integrations → AI Models (also available on the web app under Account → Integrations).
2. You'll see the connected AI provider there. Two options:
- Top up that provider's billing (e.g. add credits to your OpenAI/Perplexity account), or
- Remove that key and connect a different provider whose account is funded — OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Mistral, or ElevenLabs.
One important clarification: on the AppSumo plan, Spellar's AI runs entirely on your own provider key (BYOK) — there isn't a separate "Spellar built-in AI" to switch to. That part of the message is misleading wording on our side (we're fixing it). So the path forward is to keep a funded AI key connected. Base live transcription still runs on-device for free without any key — it's the summaries/AI chat that need the connected provider.
Sorry for the confusing message — thanks for flagging it!