KeyMaker Overview
KeyMaker is direct API access to the AI models available through campusGenAI. It lets you use those models outside the chat interface — in your own code, custom applications, and research workflows — while running on the same secure, institutionally governed infrastructure as the chat platform.
What KeyMaker is
Section titled “What KeyMaker is”The campusGenAI chat interface is great for conversational, day-to-day use. KeyMaker opens the door to everything beyond that:
- Programmatic integrations — call AI models directly from your own scripts and services
- Custom applications — build institutional tools and apps on top of campusGenAI’s models
- Research workflows — batch processing, data analysis, and custom AI pipelines
- Developer tooling — use coding agents like Claude Code and Codex with campusGenAI’s models
You authenticate with an API key and point your tools at the KeyMaker base URL:
https://thekeymaker.umass.eduWho it’s for
Section titled “Who it’s for”- Researchers building custom AI pipelines
- Developers integrating AI into institutional applications
- Faculty and staff running programmatic workflows (batch processing, data analysis, etc.)
- Graduate students working on AI-related projects under a sponsor
Key benefits
Section titled “Key benefits”- Institutional governance and data security — KeyMaker runs through the same secure infrastructure as the chat platform: an AWS secure landing zone, approved for Level 3 data, with no data used to train models.
- Multi-model access — the same set of AI models available on the campusGenAI chat platform is available through the API. See the Model Comparison page for what’s offered.
- Sponsor-funded — sponsors bring their own funding source (speedtype, grant, or department budget) to cover usage, so there’s no additional burden on the institution’s central budget.
- Team provisioning — sponsors can allocate API access and manage usage across their team members.
How it differs from the chat interface
Section titled “How it differs from the chat interface”| Chat interface | KeyMaker (API) | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Web interface, conversational | Programmatic — your code, CLI, or app |
| Best for | Everyday questions, drafting, exploration | Automation, custom apps, research pipelines |
| Funding | Included with your campusGenAI account | Sponsor-funded (speedtype required) |
Not sure which to use? See Usage and Best Practices.
Getting started
Section titled “Getting started”Ready to request access? Head to Getting Started for eligibility, the request process, and team provisioning.
Need help?
Section titled “Need help?”- Get help: Contact us
- About campusGenAI: Main site
Your interface may look slightly different depending on your institution’s deployment.