Your AI Tools
Babson gives every student in this course an API key for Claude Sonnet 5, and that key runs chat and agent mode in VS Code. GitHub Copilot handles inline completions. Neither costs you anything.
Apply for the GitHub Student Developer Pack
The GitHub Student Developer Pack is free and includes developer tools such as JetBrains IDEs, cloud credits and a free domain name.
It also upgrades your Copilot plan to Copilot Student, which makes code completions unlimited and adds a monthly allowance of AI credits for chat and agent mode. GitHub can ask for proof of enrollment, such as a dated class schedule, a transcript, or a student ID, so apply early and leave time for approval.
What each tool does
| Tool | Use it for | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Inline completions, the gray ghost text you accept with Tab |
VS Code Setup |
| Babson AI key | Chat and agent mode in VS Code | Your Babson AI Key |
| Microsoft Copilot | Chat about anything you would keep out of a consumer account | Sign in with your Babson account |
Microsoft Copilot runs under Babson's own agreement. It is a chat tool, so it does not edit your files the way an AI agent does.
Before you start a chat in VS Code, check the model picker at the bottom of the chat input. With Sonnet 5 (Babson) selected, the request draws on your Babson budget. Any other model draws on Copilot's AI credits.
Claude Code and Codex
Every paid Claude plan includes Claude Code, which also runs as a VS Code extension. Codex comes with every ChatGPT plan, including the free one, and its usage limits vary by plan. No assignment requires either one. Claude Code is switched off on Babson keys by default, and Your Babson AI Key explains how to ask for it.
When you need a key of your own
The Babson key is for your own machine and your own editor. Get a key from another provider, such as OpenRouter, in these cases:
- A live project calls a model. The Babson key cannot go into a website, app or service that other people can use. Anyone who opens a page on GitHub Pages can read a key inside it, so load only a few dollars into that account and leave auto top-up off.
- Your monthly budget runs out. It resets at the start of each month. To keep working until then, add the new key under Chat: Manage Language Models, the same place the Babson key went, and select that model in the chat panel.
- The Babson key expires on December 31, 2026.
If paying for a key of your own is a barrier, message the instructor.
Last updated: Wednesday, 9/23/2026