CASK lets you choose the AI used to prepare your work. You can connect your own account with a supported cloud AI provider or use a compatible local model.
This matters because a privacy assessment, a public policy draft, and an internal security review may have different information-handling requirements.
What bringing your own key means
An API key is a credential that lets CASK use your AI provider account. The provider charges that account for usage. Your CASK plan and your AI usage are separate costs.
Choose a provider your organization approves. Check which information it may process, how it handles requests, and what spending controls are available. Having your own key does not by itself keep information on your device.
Cloud AI or a local model?
| Consideration | Cloud AI | Local model |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | The provider receives the content needed for your request | Processing happens where you run the model |
| Cost | Provider usage charges | Hardware and operating costs |
| Setup | A supported provider account and key | Suitable hardware and a compatible model setup |
| Quality | Test the model on representative work | Test the model on the same work |
Neither choice removes the need for review. A small model may struggle with a long or complex assessment. A more capable model can still misunderstand a source or invent a detail.
Start with a representative task
Use a small set of records you are allowed to process. Ask for a draft whose accuracy you can check, such as a summary of an approved policy. Include a question the records cannot answer.
Check whether the result uses the right source, preserves important qualifications, and leaves unsupported information open. Measure the time needed to review it, alongside model cost.
Keep the same approval discipline
CASK helps connect drafts to records and presents changes for review. You remain responsible for the final answer, regardless of which model prepared it.
Does a local model mean the whole app is offline?
Local model processing is separate from account services, diagnostics, updates, and any connected tools. Review the privacy policy and your configuration.
Can Truvara help us choose an approach?
Yes. Tell us the work and your data requirements. We can discuss CASK for your team or an expert service using the same workspace.