# Add an AI Model and chat with your data (Optional)

Optional. Add an OpenAI, Anthropic, or xAI model and chat with the NYC Taxi Trips dataset.

> **Note**
>
> This step is optional and is not required to get started. It needs an API key from one of these providers:
>
> - [OpenAI](https://platform.openai.com/): an OpenAI API Platform account and API key.
> - [Anthropic](https://platform.claude.com/): a Claude Developer Platform account and API key.
> - [xAI](https://console.x.ai/): an xAI account and API key.
>
> Don't have a key? Skip to [Next Steps](https://spice.ai/docs/cloud/getting-started/get-started/next-steps).

Complete [Add a Dataset and query data](https://spice.ai/docs/cloud/getting-started/get-started/step-2-add-dataset-and-query-data) first so the model has a dataset to answer questions about.

## Adding a Model Provider

1. Navigate to **Build** > **Code**.
2. In **Components** sidebar, click the **Models** tab, and select the provider that matches your key: **OpenAI**, **Anthropic**, or **xAI**.
3. Enter the **Model name.**
4. Enter the **Model ID** for the provider (for example `gpt-5.6`, `claude-sonnet-5-5`, or `grok-4.7`).
5. Set the provider **API Key** secret.
   1. API keys and other secrets are securely stored and encrypted. See [Secrets](https://spice.ai/docs/cloud/portal/apps/secrets).
6. Insert `tools: auto` in the `params` section of the Model to automatically connect datasets to the model.\
   \
   The final Spicepod configuration in the editor should match the tab for your provider:

**OpenAI**

```yaml
name: my-first-app
kind: Spicepod
version: v1beta1

datasets:
  - from: s3://spiceai-demo-datasets/taxi_trips/2024/
    name: samples.taxi_trips
    description: Taxi trips dataset from Spice.ai demo datasets.
    params:
      file_format: parquet

models:
  - from: openai:gpt-5.6
    name: gpt-5.6
    params:
      endpoint: https://api.openai.com/v1
      openai_api_key: ${secrets:OPENAI_API_KEY}
      reasoning_effort: none
      tools: auto
```

**Anthropic**

```yaml
name: my-first-app
kind: Spicepod
version: v1beta1

datasets:
  - from: s3://spiceai-demo-datasets/taxi_trips/2024/
    name: samples.taxi_trips
    description: Taxi trips dataset from Spice.ai demo datasets.
    params:
      file_format: parquet

models:
  - from: anthropic:claude-sonnet-5-5
    name: claude-sonnet-5-5
    params:
      anthropic_api_key: ${secrets:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}
      tools: auto
```

**xAI**

```yaml
name: my-first-app
kind: Spicepod
version: v1beta1

datasets:
  - from: s3://spiceai-demo-datasets/taxi_trips/2024/
    name: samples.taxi_trips
    description: Taxi trips dataset from Spice.ai demo datasets.
    params:
      file_format: parquet

models:
  - from: xai:grok-4.7
    name: grok-4-7
    params:
      xai_api_key: ${secrets:XAI_API_KEY}
      tools: auto
```

See [OpenAI](https://spice.ai/docs/building-blocks/model-providers/openai), [Anthropic](https://spice.ai/docs/building-blocks/model-providers/anthropic), and [xAI](https://spice.ai/docs/building-blocks/model-providers/xai) for the full list of parameters for each provider.

7. Click **Save** in the code toolbar and then **Deploy** in the popup card that appears in the bottom right to deploy the changes.
8. Navigate to **Playground** and select **AI Chat** in the sidebar.
9. Ask a question about the NYC Taxi Trips dataset in the chat. For example:
   - "What datasets are available?"
   - "What is the average fare amount of a taxi trip?"

## \[Optional] Call chat completions API using cURL

10. Replace `[API-KEY]` in the sample below with the project API Key, and `[MODEL-NAME]` with the model `name` from the Spicepod (for example `gpt-5.6`), then execute in a terminal.

**cURL**

```sh
curl --request POST \
      --url 'https://data.spiceai.io/v1/chat/completions' \
      --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
      --header 'X-API-KEY: [API-KEY]' \
      --data '{ "messages": [{ "role": "user", "content": "Hello!" }], "model": "[MODEL-NAME]" }'
```

Congratulations, you've now added an AI model and can use it to ask questions of the NYC Taxi Trips dataset.

Continue to [Next Steps](https://spice.ai/docs/cloud/getting-started/get-started/next-steps).

> **Note**
>
> Need help? Ask a question, raise issues, and provide feedback to the Spice AI team on [Slack](https://spiceai.org/slack).