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What Are AI Providers?

AI Providers are secure connections to external AI services that power Elementum’s intelligent features. Think of them as bridges that allow Elementum to access advanced AI models for tasks like text generation, data analysis, and intelligent automation.
AI Providers are the foundation for all AI features in Elementum. You’ll need to configure at least one provider before you can use AI Services, AI Search, or Agents.

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How AI Providers Work

AI Providers establish authenticated connections to external AI services, allowing Elementum to securely access their models and capabilities. Once configured, these providers enable you to:
  • Create AI Services for specific tasks (LLMs, embeddings)
  • Power intelligent automations with AI-driven actions
  • Enable AI Search across your data
  • Deploy conversational Agents for customer support

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Supported AI Providers

Elementum supports three major AI providers, each with unique strengths:
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OpenAI

Best for: General-purpose AI tasks, conversational agents, and text generationModels: o3, o4-mini, GPT-4 Turbo (LLM services only)Setup: API key authentication

Snowflake Cortex

Best for: Data-native AI with direct access to your warehouseModels: Claude Sonnet 4, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Claude Opus 4, Arctic L V2.0Setup: Uses your existing CloudLink connection

Google Gemini

Best for: Multimodal AI capabilities and Google ecosystem integrationModels: Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 (LLM services only)Setup: Google Cloud service account

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Provider Selection Guide

Choose OpenAI if:
  • You want the most mature and widely-used AI models
  • You need reliable conversational AI capabilities
  • You’re building customer-facing agents
  • You prefer straightforward API key setup
Choose Snowflake Cortex if:
  • You already have a CloudLink connection configured
  • You want AI that operates directly on your data warehouse
  • You need data privacy and residency controls
  • You’re building data-intensive AI workflows
Choose Google Gemini if:
  • You need multimodal AI capabilities (text, images, etc.)
  • You’re already using Google Cloud services
  • You want cutting-edge AI model performance
  • You need flexible model options

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Authentication & Security

All AI Providers use secure authentication methods:
  • API Key Authentication: OpenAI uses encrypted API keys
  • Service Account Authentication: Google Gemini uses service account credentials
  • CloudLink Integration: Snowflake Cortex leverages your existing secure connection
Security Best Practice: Never share your API keys or service account credentials. Store them securely and rotate them regularly according to your security policies.

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Setup Process Overview

Setting up AI Providers follows a consistent pattern:
1

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the necessary accounts and permissions for your chosen provider
2

Obtain Credentials

Get API keys, service account files, or configure CloudLink access
3

Configure Provider

Add the provider in Elementum’s Organization Settings
4

Test Connection

Verify the connection works correctly
5

Create AI Services

Set up specific AI Services using your configured provider

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Getting Started

Ready to set up your first AI Provider? Choose your preferred provider and follow the detailed setup guide:

Set Up OpenAI

Configure OpenAI API access for general-purpose AI capabilities

Set Up Snowflake Cortex

Enable AI directly on your data warehouse

Set Up Google Gemini

Connect to Google’s advanced AI models

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Multiple Providers

You can configure multiple AI Providers simultaneously to:
  • Use different models for different tasks
  • Implement failover strategies for reliability
  • Optimize costs by routing to the most efficient provider
  • Access specialized capabilities from each provider
Pro Tip: Start with one provider to get familiar with AI features, then add additional providers as your needs grow.

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Next Steps

After configuring your AI Providers:
  1. Create AI Services - Set up specific LLMs and embedding models
  2. Configure AI Search - Enable intelligent search across your data
  3. Build Agents - Create conversational AI assistants
  4. Use AI Actions - Add AI to your automation workflows

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Common Issues

Symptoms: Unable to connect to AI providerCommon Causes:
  • Invalid API keys or credentials
  • Network policy restrictions
  • Insufficient permissions
Solutions:
  1. Verify credentials are correct and active
  2. Check network policies and firewall rules
  3. Ensure proper permissions are granted
Symptoms: Desired models don’t appear in service creationCommon Causes:
  • Provider not properly configured
  • Account limits or restrictions
  • Regional availability issues
Solutions:
  1. Verify provider configuration is complete
  2. Check account status and limits
  3. Confirm model availability in your region
AI Providers are the foundation of Elementum’s AI capabilities. Choose the right provider for your needs and start building intelligent workflows today.
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