COURSE STUDIO

Model and budget

Course Studio uses an AI model to write outlines, labs, books, tests and scripts. Model and budget is where you choose that model, decide who pays for it, and see what it has spent this month. Only an organisation admin can change the model.

The model

Course Studio uses DeepSeek, and it’s the default. The default model suits most courses. A larger model writes better books and costs more.

Who pays: the trial, your plan or your own key

Paid by When
Free trial A new studio. A small allowance, with a daily allowance shared across trial studios. When it runs out, building carries on the next day.
Your Peridot plan Your organisation’s plan includes an engine budget for the month.
Your own key You’ve added your own DeepSeek key. Model calls go out on your key and don’t count against the trial or your plan.
A model calla stage writesOwn key saved?Your own keyyour monthly limit, if setFree trial or your planthis month’s engine budgetyesno
Where each model call is charged.

Add your own key

  1. In Model and budget, under Your own key, paste your DeepSeek key.
  2. Select Test to check it. A refused key shows “The key was refused.” Testing costs nothing.
  3. Select Save key. The engine uses your key from the next model call.
  4. Optionally, set a Monthly limit on your key in US dollars, then Save limit. Leave it empty for no limit.

After saving, Peridot shows only the last four characters of the key. Replace with a new key swaps it; Remove takes it off, and building goes back on the free trial or your plan.

What it’s spent

The page shows this month’s spend, the model calls and tokens, how many courses are building at once, and the spend by course, with what was paid by your key and what by the trial or your plan.

Northside Training›Course studio›Model and budget

Model and budget

The model that writes your courses, and what it may spend each month.

The model In use · the default
Provider
DeepSeek
Paid by
On your own key
Your key
•••• WXYZ
Monthly limit
$20

Test Replace with a new key

This month by course
Linux for support teams412 calls$3.10
Bookkeeping basics188 calls$1.42
Customer service on the phone96 calls$0.61
Model and budget for a studio on its own key.

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