Gemini API Key Setup
Enable enhanced AI summarization with Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash model. This optional cloud AI mode provides superior quality for complex technical articles while maintaining TTS privacy (audio synthesis remains 100% local).
info Privacy Trade-off
When using Gemini API, article content is sent to Google's servers for summarization. For sensitive material (medical, legal, financial, personal), always use Local AI mode instead.
Why Use Cloud AI Mode?
Local AI vs. Gemini API
| Feature | Local AI (Default) | Gemini API (Optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 100% Private - No data sent | Article text sent to Google |
| Quality | Good (Chrome AI) | Excellent (Gemini 2.5 Flash) |
| Cost | Free forever | Free tier, then pay-per-use |
| Speed | Fast (local processing) | Fast (depends on internet) |
| Internet | Not required | Required |
| Best For | Privacy, offline use, general content | Complex tech articles, research papers |
When to Use Gemini API
- Complex technical documentation with dense jargon
- Academic research papers requiring nuanced comprehension
- Multi-topic articles needing sophisticated analysis
- When highest quality summaries justify privacy trade-off
Step 1: Create Google AI Studio Account
Sign Up for Google AI Studio
- Visit ai.google.dev
- Click "Get API key in Google AI Studio"
- Sign in with your Google account (personal or workspace)
- Accept the terms of service
No credit card required for the free tier.
Step 2: Generate Your API Key
Create a New API Key
- In Google AI Studio, navigate to "Get API Key" in the left sidebar
- Click "Create API Key"
- Select an existing Google Cloud project or create a new one:
- New Project: Google creates one automatically for you
- Existing Project: Select from dropdown if you have one
- Click "Create API Key in new/existing project"
- Your API key will be generated and displayed
content_copy Copy Your API Key Immediately
The API key is only shown once. Copy it to a secure location (password manager recommended). You can regenerate it later if lost, but old keys will be invalidated.
API Key Format
Your Gemini API key will look like this:
AIzaSyA1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv
It starts with AIza followed by 35 alphanumeric characters.
Step 3: Configure TLD2 with Your API Key
Add API Key to TLD2 Settings
- Open TLD2 by clicking the extension icon or right-clicking → "TLD2 - Summarize Article"
- Click the settings icon (gear) in the sidebar
- Scroll to the "Developer Options" section
- Find the "Gemini API Key" input field
- Paste your API key (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
- Click "Save" at the bottom of the settings panel
TLD2 stores the key locally in encrypted Chrome storage. It's never transmitted except directly to Google's Gemini API.
Step 4: Test Cloud AI Mode
Verify Gemini API Integration
- Navigate to any article (try a technical blog post or news article)
- Click TLD2 extension icon or use right-click menu
- Watch the summary generate—it should use Gemini API automatically
- If "Info Printout" is enabled in settings, you'll see "Using Gemini API" in the status text
check_circle How to Verify It's Working
Gemini API typically produces longer, more detailed summaries with better comprehension of technical terms. Compare the same article using both local AI and Gemini to see the quality difference.
Understanding API Usage & Pricing
Free Tier Limits (As of January 2025)
- 15 requests per minute (RPM)
- 1 million tokens per day
- 1,500 requests per day
For typical article summarization:
- Average article: ~1,000-3,000 tokens input
- Summary output: ~200-500 tokens
- Realistic daily usage: 300-500 articles before hitting free tier limits
warning Monitor Your Usage
Check your usage in Google AI Studio under "Quota & System Limits." If you exceed the free tier frequently, you can upgrade to pay-per-use pricing (typically $0.00025-$0.001 per 1K tokens).
Paid Pricing (Pay-as-you-go)
If you need more than the free tier:
- Input: $0.075 per 1M tokens
- Output: $0.30 per 1M tokens
- Realistic cost: $0.0001-$0.0003 per article summarized
For most users, the free tier is sufficient for daily use.
Security Best Practices
Protecting Your API Key
- Never share your API key publicly (GitHub, forums, screenshots)
- Don't commit it to version control (if customizing TLD2)
- Regenerate if exposed—go to Google AI Studio → Delete old key → Create new
- Use API key restrictions (optional)—limit to specific IP addresses or referrers in Google Cloud Console
- Monitor usage regularly—watch for unexpected spikes indicating unauthorized use
Revoking API Keys
If your key is compromised:
- Go to Google AI Studio API Keys
- Click the trash icon next to the compromised key
- Generate a new key immediately
- Update TLD2 settings with the new key
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"API Key Invalid" Error
Cause: Typo, expired key, or key from wrong project
Solution:
- Double-check you copied the entire key (starts with
AIza) - Verify no extra spaces before/after the key
- Regenerate a new key in Google AI Studio
"Quota Exceeded" Error
Cause: You've hit daily/minute request limits
Solution:
- Wait until limits reset (typically at midnight UTC)
- Temporarily switch to Local AI mode
- Upgrade to paid tier if you need higher limits
"Network Error" or "Failed to Connect"
Cause: Internet connectivity issue or Google API downtime
Solution:
- Check your internet connection
- Verify Google AI services status at status.cloud.google.com
- Fallback to Local AI mode if urgent
Summary Quality Isn't Better
Cause: TLD2 may still be using local AI despite API key
Solution:
- Verify API key is saved correctly in settings
- Check for error messages in browser console (F12)
- Try regenerating API key and re-entering
Switching Back to Local AI
To disable Gemini API and return to 100% local processing:
- Open TLD2 settings
- Navigate to "Developer Options"
- Clear the "Gemini API Key" field (delete all text)
- Click "Save"
TLD2 will immediately revert to local AI mode for all future summaries.