# AI in Redcast

> Choose a provider, ask in the palette, or work in the full chat window.

Enable AI in **Settings → AI → Enable AI**, then connect a provider. Turning AI on does not buy model access: use your own API key, local model, supported installed tool or ChatGPT account.

## Choose your surface

| Surface | Use it for | Open it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Quick AI](/docs/ai/quick-ai) | A question while you stay in the launcher | Type a question and press Tab |
| [AI Chat](/docs/ai/workspace) | Ongoing conversations, projects, files and agents | Run AI Chat or bind its shortcut |
| [Quick Actions](/docs/ai/quick-actions) | Rewrite selected text in another app | Select text and run an action |
| [Ask by Voice](/docs/voice/ask) | A spoken question about the window in front | Bind its own shortcut |
| [Background agents](/docs/agents/background) | A task that can continue without a window | Type `@handle` and the task |

## Connect a model first

Open **Settings → AI → Providers**. API connections include OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter and OpenAI-compatible servers. The **Codex (ChatGPT)** option signs in with a ChatGPT account. Installed-tool providers use the command-line tools already on your Mac.

[Providers and models](/docs/ai/providers) explains the different routes. Choose a default model and reasoning effort, then ask a simple question to check the connection before enabling more tools.

## Give a chat more context

You can attach files, attach a Note, send a clipboard entry, or capture the window in front. Redcast checks attachment support for the selected route before sending. The [attachments guide](/docs/ai/files) covers files, the reply's Files strip and Quick Look.

[Web search](/docs/ai/web-search) lets supported API models search and read pages. [MCP servers](/docs/ai/mcp) add external tools. A [native agent](/docs/agents) adds a working directory, file and terminal tools, skills and memory.

## Controls and costs

The model determines what can be read, which tools can run and whether reasoning controls are available. An installed chat provider and an ACP agent are different routes even if they launch tools from the same vendor.

[AI Usage](/docs/ai/usage) shows reported tokens and costs. A subscription connection uses its plan's allowance; an API connection uses its provider's billing. Missing cost data is shown as unpriced, not free.

## Turning AI off

Turning AI off stops active replies and removes AI entry points. It preserves saved conversations and credentials. Retention, archive and deletion are separate settings described in [AI Chat](/docs/ai/workspace) and [privacy](/docs/reference/privacy).