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

# AI Assistant

> Generate and explain queries with an AI provider you connect using your own key.

Ask the assistant to **generate** a query from a plain-language description, **explain** an existing query, or help you debug, with awareness of your current database's schema.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/flextable/N9AmtdFPRmv5ROOo/images/08-ai-assistant/chat.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=N9AmtdFPRmv5ROOo&q=85&s=0aa6800f505d8cc662deb48a509a6586" alt="The AI Assistant" width="1143" height="829" data-path="images/08-ai-assistant/chat.png" />

## Bring your own key

For privacy and security, **FlexTable ships with no AI keys**; you connect your own provider. Your key and requests go directly from the app to the provider you choose, nothing is routed through FlexTable.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings, then AI Assistant" />

  <Step title="Choose a provider">Built-in providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, GitHub Copilot, Ollama.</Step>

  <Step title="Enter your API key and select a model" />

  <Step title="Save" />
</Steps>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/flextable/N9AmtdFPRmv5ROOo/images/08-ai-assistant/provider-setup.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=N9AmtdFPRmv5ROOo&q=85&s=496f6d2b2220d47638b9fc493281459b" alt="AI provider setup" width="600" height="507" data-path="images/08-ai-assistant/provider-setup.png" />

<Note>The built-in providers above are free (you bring your own key). Adding a **custom provider** with your own **base URL** (a self-hosted, proxy, or OpenAI-compatible endpoint) is a PRO feature.</Note>

<Tip>**Local models too.** With a custom provider you can point the base URL at a local runtime (for example an Ollama-compatible endpoint) to keep everything on your machine.</Tip>

## Use it

* Describe what you want ("top 10 customers by revenue this month") to get a query.
* Paste a query and ask for an explanation or a fix.
* Run the suggested query directly in the editor.

<Warning>The AI provider you choose receives the query and schema context you send it. When your data is sensitive, use a provider you trust. See [Security and privacy](/security-and-privacy).</Warning>