# API & AI - connect your programs and AI assistants

> Use Settings › API & AI to create API keys, connect Claude or ChatGPT through the SmartPOS Hub MCP server, and read the developer portal at /developers.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/api-and-ai/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

**Settings › API & AI** connects your own programs and AI assistants to SmartPOS Hub. Everything works at the user level: a key or AI connection always acts as the person it belongs to, with their permissions and locations.

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** API (check Settings › Package Subscription)
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › API & AI (the Security tab controls who may connect AI apps and IP limits)
> 3. **Permission:** Every staff user can see and disconnect their own AI apps; API keys need permission to manage own keys or all keys

## Tabs

| Tab | Purpose |
|---|---|
| **API keys** | Create, edit (narrow only), rotate and revoke keys: name, full or chosen permissions, read-only or read & write, locations, expiry |
| **Connected AI apps** | AI assistants you approved; disconnect any time |
| **Connect an AI** | Your **MCP server address** and steps for Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code and Cursor |
| **Activity** | Every call made with your keys and connections |
| **Security** | Who may connect AI apps (everyone or key managers only), IP allow-list, revoke all |

The **Storefront keys** card at the top is for your online store's own key - see [Your online store](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/online-store/).

## Connect an AI assistant

1. Open **Settings › API & AI › Connect an AI** and press **Copy** next to **Your MCP server address**.
2. In Claude (claude.ai or Claude Desktop): **Settings › Connectors › Add custom connector**, paste the address, **Add**, then **Connect**. In ChatGPT: add a connector / MCP server with OAuth.
3. Sign in to SmartPOS Hub and choose what the assistant may do, then **Allow**.
4. Ask, for example, "What were yesterday's sales?" The assistant asks before it changes or deletes anything, and every call appears under **Activity**.

![Connect an AI tab with the MCP server address, steps for Claude and ChatGPT, and commands for Claude Code and Cursor](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/on-api-connect-ai.CxyJYt_A.png) (web app page: `/api-settings?tab=mcp`)

## Developer portal

Open **Developer docs** (or /developers on your app address) for the quick start, the endpoint list, the interactive **API reference**, **Connect an AI** and the **llms.txt** files that AI tools can read. A separate **Storefront API** section is for people building a website or online store.

![SmartPOS Hub developer portal with base URL and MCP server address, Quick start, Connect Claude or ChatGPT and the interactive reference](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/on-developers-portal.q1gIO-Oe.png) (web app page: `/developers`)

**Caution:** Treat API keys like passwords. Use read-only keys and limited permissions where you can, and revoke keys you no longer use.

## Related pages

  - [Your online store](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/online-store/)
  - [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
  - [Account security](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/account-security/)
  - [Integrations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/integrations/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What can I connect?

Your own programs (with an API key) and AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT (with the MCP server address and a sign-in). Everything goes through the same REST API.

### Can a key do more than its owner?

No. A key or AI connection can never do more than the person it belongs to: their role permissions and locations apply, and you can narrow them further.

### Where is the developer documentation?

On the developer portal at /developers on your app address, for example app.smartposhub.com/developers, with the endpoint list, an interactive reference, Connect an AI and llms.txt files for AI tools.

### How do I connect Claude?

In Claude, open Settings › Connectors › Add custom connector, paste the MCP server address shown in Settings › API & AI › Connect an AI, then sign in to SmartPOS Hub and choose what Claude may do.

### Who can create API keys?

Staff with permission to manage their own keys or all keys. Creating or rotating a key asks for your password. The key is shown only once.

### Is this the key for my online store?

No. Your online store uses its own storefront key, shown in the Storefront keys card and managed on Website › Settings & API. Never put an admin API key in a website.