Connected assistant mode

In the proposed default, a user asks their existing assistant to prepare a document. The assistant retrieves authorized context through tools and supplies structured data. The backend validates fields, calculates totals and renders the result. This interactive workflow does not require a separate backend language-model call for every document.

Bring your own key

BYOK means an API credential for an explicitly supported provider. It does not mean entering a consumer subscription password. API charges normally belong to the key owner’s account under that provider’s rules. A production implementation needs secure storage, restricted access, revocation and clear usage reporting. This demo deliberately collects no keys.

Managed AI

Managed mode would provide model calls funded by the product operator. A customer would need a clear allowance or usage price, spending limits and behavior at the cap. The concept includes an illustrative budget control, not a live billing policy. It never switches silently from a host connection to paid inference.

Background work is the important boundary

A date-based reminder task can be created by ordinary application code. Writing a fresh personalized message overnight needs model access from somewhere. A connected assistant should not be assumed available after the user closes a conversation. A supported host automation, BYOK or managed inference would be required for that separate job.

Subscriptions do not imply API access

Claude documents consumer subscriptions and API billing as separate products. OpenAI documents eligible ChatGPT-plan usage in participating applications, with access conditions for paid or hosted apps. Those programs should be evaluated explicitly rather than assumed to cover arbitrary backend workloads.

Which mode should a small business start with?

For this concept, connected mode is the starting hypothesis because it uses an interface the customer already knows. BYOK adds account and billing setup, so it is an advanced option. Managed mode can simplify that setup but introduces operator costs. The useful choice depends on actual usage, supported hosts and the need for background tasks.

Primary sources

Platform guidance can change. Check these sources before making an installation or purchasing decision.