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A novel business model is emerging in the AI service sector, offering users a subscription service that leverages their own pre-existing AI API keys. Instead of directly providing access to a specific large language model (LLM), these services charge a fee to unlock functionality while allowing subscribers to connect using keys from providers like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, or DeepSeek. This “Bring Your Own AI Key” (BYOAI) approach aims to reduce initial investment hurdles for users and grants them greater control over their AI spending, as they directly manage their token consumption with their chosen provider. However, challenges remain, including streamlined user onboarding processes, establishing trust around key management security, and providing guidance on optimizing token usage to minimize costs. The concept gained initial traction within the AI community, originating in a discussion on Reddit.