---
title: "Common AI configurations"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/ai-capabilities-in-workflow/common-ai-configurations/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/ai-capabilities-in-workflow/common-ai-configurations.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-26T07:02:01.817Z"
description: "Set up API credentials, configure AI connections, and tune advanced model settings in Nutrient Workflow Automation."
---

# Common AI configurations

This guide covers shared configuration steps for all AI features in Nutrient Workflow Automation. Complete these steps before setting up any AI feature.

## Prerequisites

Before beginning, ensure you have:

- An account with an AI provider (OpenAI, Claude, etc.).

- A valid API key from the AI provider.

- Write access to **AI Sources** in Nutrient Workflow Automation.
  - In Workflow Automation, **AI Sources** is the settings area where you create and manage AI connections. An AI source combines the AI provider, selected model, and stored credential, and it can be reused across AI features such as [using AI data extraction to populate forms](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/admin-guide/forms/using-ai-data-extraction-question.md), [generating forms using AI](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/admin-guide/forms/using-ai-form-generator.md), and [agentic approval](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/admin-guide/processes/tasks/standard-task/approval-task/ai-agentic-approval.md).
  - **AI Sources** is managed from **Settings** in your system configuration. Setup relies on credentials stored in **Credential Center**, so this access is typically limited to administrators. If you need write access to create or edit AI sources, contact your Workflow Automation system administrator.

## Supported file types and sizes

AI providers accept common document formats such as PDF, DOC, DOCX, and TXT. Specific limits and supported formats vary by provider.

- **OpenAI**
  - Accepts a range of file types (TXT, PDF, DOCX, CSV, JSON, etc.).
  - For the latest supported file types and size limits, refer to the [OpenAI documentation](https://platform.openai.com/docs/assistants/tools/file-search#supported-files).

- **Claude (Anthropic)**
  - Supports multiple text-based file types, including PDFs.
  - For the latest supported file types and size limits, refer to [Anthropic’s documentation](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/managed-agents/files#supported-file-types).

Always verify the current constraints directly from the provider’s documentation, as limits may change over time.

## Creating a new API credential and AI connection

**Steps:**

1. Obtain an API key from your AI provider:
   - **OpenAI** — Log in to your OpenAI account and create a new API key.
   - **Claude (Anthropic)** — Log in to your Claude account and follow the instructions to create a new API key.

2. Open [**Credential Center**](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/workflow-automation/admin-guide/settings/credential-center.md) and add a new credential.

3. Enter a credential name — for example, **OpenAI API Key** or **Claude Key** — paste the API key, and save.

4. Open **AI Sources**.

5. Click **Add Connection**. Enter a name and description for the connection and select the **AI Provider** and **Model**.

   Available providers and models in **AI Sources** are maintained by the platform and may change over time as provider definitions are updated. Deprecated models are hidden when creating new connections. If you edit an existing connection that uses a deprecated model, the UI shows a warning and requires selecting a supported model before saving.

6. In **Select Credentials**, choose the credential you created in Credential Center.

7. Click **Save**.

## Tips and best practices

- **Provide clear instructions** — Write concise, direct prompts for better results.

- **Validate the AI output** — Confirm the AI response includes the required fields and expected values.

- **Refine iteratively** — Small changes in prompt wording can produce significantly different results.

- **Watch for hallucinations** — AI may sometimes provide information not present in a document. If this occurs, reinforce instructions to omit any unverified content.
---

## Related pages

- [Advanced AI settings](/guides/workflow-automation/ai-capabilities-in-workflow/advanced-settings.md)
- [AI in Nutrient Workflow Automation](/guides/workflow-automation/ai-capabilities-in-workflow.md)