> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://llm.theparley.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://llm.theparley.org/what-is-parley.md).

# What is Parley?

Many research tools support Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)—you provide an API key, the app routes requests through your institution’s gateway, and you keep control over usage. With Parley, your key:

* Is provisioned to your KSU email and is one-active-key-at-a-time.
* Authenticates through Parley’s secure gateway, not the public internet directly.
* Enables per-user usage tracking and budgeting for research stewardship.
* Applies LLM-based Moderation automatically as a guardrail before requests are forwarded.

## Get your Parley key

1. Go to <https://keys.theparley.org/>.
2. Sign in with your KSU email and request a key.
3. Use the magic link in your email to generate the key in a web browser.
4. Copy your key and store it securely.
5. (Optional) If you already had a key, this process rotates it out. Only the newest key remains active.

> **Note:** Keys are provided to support research **as resources permit**. Availability and rate limits may adjust over time.

## Why use Parley keys?

**Security & Compliance**

* All traffic runs through a secure access channel with auditability.
* Moderation is applied by default to reduce risk and support responsible use.

**Accountability & Budgeting**

* Keys are tied to individual researchers for accurate usage tracking.
* Visibility helps align compute spend with research priorities.

**Model Choice**

* Parley exposes a curated catalog including:
  * Reasoning language models for analysis, drafting, and tool-use.
  * Embedding models for search, clustering, RAG, and semantic analytics.
  * Image models for generation and editing where appropriate.
* Tutorials indicate which model names to select in each app.

## Choosing Your Application

To make use of your Parley key, you can choose an application (and walkthrough) from these options.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Cherry Studio</strong></td><td><strong>Supported Platforms:</strong> <br>Windows, Mac, Linux</td><td><strong>Useful Services:</strong><br>Chat, Images, Chat with Files</td><td data-object-fit="contain"><a href="/files/RCalzqZzvghMfqFp9qxy">/files/RCalzqZzvghMfqFp9qxy</a></td><td><a href="/pages/7FvWQMF0kTK7HGhlQfmo">/pages/7FvWQMF0kTK7HGhlQfmo</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Codename Goose</strong></td><td><strong>Supported Platforms:</strong> <br>Windows, Mac, Linux</td><td><strong>Useful Services:</strong><br>Chat, Task Automation, Chat with Files</td><td data-object-fit="contain"><a href="/files/fAQbGMpdIYmRHhpH0YN4">/files/fAQbGMpdIYmRHhpH0YN4</a></td><td><a href="/pages/AA4iagW6n0ZddkQSlhJf">/pages/AA4iagW6n0ZddkQSlhJf</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Apollo by Liquid</strong></td><td><strong>Supported Platforms:</strong><br>iOS, Android, Mac</td><td><strong>Useful Services:</strong><br>Chat, Chat with Files</td><td><a href="/files/dkpJJK8NX0VU5JobajOs">/files/dkpJJK8NX0VU5JobajOs</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Witsy</strong></td><td><strong>Supported Platforms:</strong> <br>Windows, Mac, Linux</td><td><strong>Useful Services:</strong><br>Chat, Chat with Files</td><td data-object-fit="contain"><a href="/files/BlCBema5hENVTKm6a1gS">/files/BlCBema5hENVTKm6a1gS</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Responsible Use

* Every request flows through the OpenAI Moderation API that flags or blocks content violating institutional policy.
* If moderation intervenes, the app will return an explanatory message. Adjust your prompt or consult the guidance section of the tutorial.
* Follow all applicable data handling policies; do not paste regulated or sensitive data (such as PII) unless your workflow explicitly allows it.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I have multiple keys?**\
No. **Only one key can be active at a time**, bound to your KSU email. Rotating a key deactivates the old one.

**What if my key is exposed or leaked in code?**\
Rotate it immediately at <https://keys.theparley.org/> and update your apps. Avoid committing keys to repos; use environment variables or secret managers.

**Are there usage limits?**\
Yes. Parley manages quotas to align with available resources and research priorities. Tutorials note any current rate limits.

**Which models are available right now?**\
We list current reasoning, embedding, and image models in the model catalog on each tutorial. Model names may evolve; always check the tutorial’s “Latest Models” box.

**Can I use this in pipelines or notebooks?**\
Yes. The same key works in notebooks, RAG services, and CLI tools—any OpenAI-compatible client that supports custom base URLs.

## Support

If you encounter configuration errors, moderation false-positives, or model selection questions, contact Dylan Goldblatt (<ngoldbla@kennesaw.edu>). He provides support for key provisioning, quotas, and policy questions.


---

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