---
title: "Quickstart: call Claude, GPT and Gemini with one API key"
description: "Create a Lazu API key, point any OpenAI SDK at https://api.lazu.ai/v1, and send your first request to Claude, GPT, Gemini or DeepSeek in a few minutes."
source: https://lazu.ai/docs/quickstart
updated: 2026-10-02
---

# Quickstart

## 1. Create a key and select a model

Create a key in the [console](https://lazu.ai/console/token). Set the environment variables below, then query the catalog with that key. Choose a model whose `supported_endpoints` includes `/v1/chat/completions` and set `LAZU_MODEL` to its ID. A catalog entry describes access and capabilities; it does not prove a live upstream request will succeed.

```bash
export LAZU_API_ORIGIN="https://api.lazu.ai"
export LAZU_API_KEY="YOUR_LAZU_KEY"
curl --fail-with-body "$LAZU_API_ORIGIN/api/models/catalog" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAZU_API_KEY"
export LAZU_MODEL="MODEL_ID_FROM_CATALOG"
```

## 2. Send a request

For raw HTTP, `LAZU_API_ORIGIN` is the origin without `/v1`. OpenAI SDKs use that origin plus `/v1`. For self-hosting, replace the origin with your own.

```bash
# Requires jq. Inspect response headers in response.headers.
jq -n --arg model "$LAZU_MODEL" \
  '{model: $model, messages: [{role: "user", content: "Hello"}]}' \
  | curl --fail-with-body -D response.headers \
      "$LAZU_API_ORIGIN/v1/chat/completions" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAZU_API_KEY" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" --data-binary @-
```

### Python

```bash
python -m pip install openai
```

```python
import os
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    api_key=os.environ["LAZU_API_KEY"],
    base_url=os.environ["LAZU_API_ORIGIN"].rstrip("/") + "/v1",
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model=os.environ["LAZU_MODEL"],
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)
```

### TypeScript

```bash
npm install openai
```

```ts
import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  apiKey: process.env.LAZU_API_KEY,
  baseURL: `${process.env.LAZU_API_ORIGIN}/v1`,
});
const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: process.env.LAZU_MODEL!,
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
});
console.log(response.choices[0].message.content);
```

## 3. Check the result

Read the returned text and save `X-Request-Id` from the response headers. In Console → Usage, find the request and inspect usage and billing. Use the same API key for `GET /api/usage/requests/{request_id}`. Do not assume an upstream response body ID is the Lazu request ID.

[Images, video and audio](https://lazu.ai/docs/endpoints/media) · [Pricing and lanes](https://lazu.ai/docs/models/pricing)