Bring Your Own AI: a beginner's guide
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes · No technical background needed
"Bring Your Own AI" (BYO) lets you power your DeskPilot front desk with your own AI provider account instead of the models we include. This guide explains what that means, walks you through setup in plain language, and gives you realistic dollar estimates so you know what to expect on your bill.
What "Bring Your Own AI" actually means
Think of DeskPilot as the front desk and the AI model as the brain answering the phone. By default we provide the brain for you — the included DeskPilot Fast model, which is free on every plan. With BYO, you plug in a brain you rent directly from an AI provider (such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or others) using your own account. You might do this to use a specific model, meet an internal policy, or use provider credits you already have.
Before you start: what you need
- A Business plan (or Enterprise). BYO is available on Business and above.
- BYO enabled on your account. It is turned on by request — if you don't see the option, contact us at info@DeskPilot.bizand we'll switch it on.
- An account with an AI provider, and the model name you want to use (for example, a specific OpenAI or Anthropic model). Your provider lists this in their dashboard.
Step-by-step setup
- Confirm your plan. Sign in and open Account → Billing. Make sure you are on the Business plan (or Enterprise). If not, upgrade first.
- Create an account with your AI provider.Sign up with the provider whose model you want (for example, OpenAI or Anthropic) and add a payment method on their side. This is the account that will be billed for the model's usage.
- Find your model name.In your provider's dashboard, copy the exact model identifier you want to use. If you are unsure which to pick, start with one of their smaller, faster models — they are cheaper and work well for front-desk replies.
- Open a configuration in DeskPilot. Go to your dashboard, open the business configuration you want to power with your own model, and find the AI model selector.
- Choose "Bring your own model" and paste in the model name from step 3. Save your changes.
- Test it in the Playground. Use the built-in Playground to send a few sample questions. Confirm the tone and answers look right. Testing in the Playground is free.
- Go live.Once you're happy, your connected channels (web chat, SMS, email, and more) will use your model. If your model is ever briefly unavailable, DeskPilot automatically falls back to an available model so customers still get a reply.
What it costs: dollar estimates
Below are illustrative estimates onlyto help you budget. Actual costs depend on your provider, the exact model, how long each message is, and current provider pricing, which changes over time. Always check your provider's official pricing page for current rates.
Estimated provider cost per reply
A typical front-desk reply is short — a customer question plus your agent's answer. Based on that, here is a rough per-reply cost by model class:
| Model class | Example use | Est. cost per reply |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / fast | Everyday reception, FAQs | $0.001 – $0.005 |
| Balanced / mid-tier | More nuanced conversations | $0.005 – $0.02 |
| Premium / flagship | Complex, high-stakes replies | $0.03 – $0.08 |
Estimated monthly cost by volume
Multiply the per-reply cost by how many replies your front desk handles. This example uses a balanced model at about $0.01 per reply, and shows the optional DeskPilot BYO upcharge at an example rate of $0.05 per reply (your actual upcharge is shown in your dashboard and may be lower, or waived entirely on negotiated plans).
| Monthly replies | Est. provider cost | Optional DeskPilot upcharge | Est. total add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 (light) | ~$5 | ~$25 | ~$30 |
| 2,000 (medium) | ~$20 | ~$100 | ~$120 |
| 10,000 (busy) | ~$100 | ~$500 | ~$600 |
How you get billed
Your AI provider bills you directly for model usage on their own schedule. Any optional DeskPilot per-reply upcharge for BYO usage is metered and billed through DeskPilot alongside your subscription. Using the included DeskPilot Fast model incurs no per-reply charge. For the full pricing terms, see our Terms of Service.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to bring my own AI?
No. BYO is entirely optional. Every plan works out of the box with the free included model and the models your plan unlocks.
What happens if my model stops responding?
DeskPilot runs models in a pool with automatic failover. If your chosen model is briefly unavailable, we route the reply to the next available model so your customer is never left waiting.
Will I be surprised by a bill?
No. Provider costs come from your own provider account, and any DeskPilot upcharge is shown to you before you opt into a paid model and tracked in your dashboard.
Need a hand?
Business and Enterprise customers get onboarding help. Email info@DeskPilot.bizand we'll help you pick a model and get set up.