> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.btsscorp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The AI engine

> The Anthropic API key, model routing, and the autonomous agent

ORCA's **domain expertise is built into the product**. Templates, deterministic HDL/FBDI generation, the mappings you set, preview, and loads all run **without any AI key** — the conversion engine works on its own. Adding an **Anthropic Claude** key layers the agentic experience on top: discovery, guided mapping, conversational chat, and error learning — the smoothness, finesse, and speed, not the foundation.

## Add your Anthropic API key

An admin sets the key in **Settings → API Keys**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add the key">
    Click **Add API Key** and paste your Anthropic key (it starts with `sk-ant-`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and verify">
    Click **Save Key**. Use **Test** to validate, or **Update** / **Remove** later.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  The key is **encrypted at rest and never shown in plaintext** — the card displays only a masked hint. It's a **per-tenant** key that only admins can manage; analysts can view the tab but see no controls.
</Info>

<Note>
  **Without a key, ORCA still works.** You can use templates, set mappings, generate load files, and load to Oracle with the built-in deterministic engine. What a key switches on is the **AI layer** — the conversion agent, chat, the workspace agent panel, **Propose Mappings**, and background jobs. Add a key and ORCA gets faster and smarter; it doesn't stop working without one.
</Note>

## How ORCA chooses a model

You don't pick a model — ORCA routes each request across Claude's **Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus** tiers to balance cost and capability: lighter, faster models for simple turns, and stronger models for complex reasoning and error diagnosis. In interactive chat this is a quick per-turn choice; heavier conversion reasoning can escalate further.

<Note>
  Model selection is automatic and not shown per answer. The chat **cost bar** surfaces spend, tokens, and calls for the session — useful for keeping an eye on usage.
</Note>

## The ORCA Autonomous Agent

On the same tab, an admin can enable **ORCA Autonomous Agent** — project-level orchestration and interview-driven setup. It layers on top of the API key: the project-level chat mode needs both the key and this toggle on.

## Next steps

<Card title="Connect to Oracle" icon="plug" href="/orca/connections/oracle-connections">
  Point ORCA at an Oracle Fusion pod and run discovery.
</Card>