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Getting a Gemini API key is an exercise in frustration (ankursethi.com)

845 points by speckx · 225 days ago · 349 comments on HN

Article summary

The author attempted to obtain a Gemini API key to use with their coding project, but encountered a frustrating and convoluted process. The process involved navigating multiple Google products and services, including Google AI Studio and Google Cloud Console, and required verifying their payment method and uploading identification documents. Despite eventually obtaining the API key, the author experienced issues with rate limits and permissions. The author compares their experience unfavorably to those of other AI services, such as Anthropic and OpenAI.

Main themes

  • Gemini API key setup
  • Google Cloud complexity
  • Developer experience
  • AI service comparison
  • Pricing and billing
  • Rate limits and permissions

What commenters say

  • The process of setting up a Gemini API key is overly complicated and frustrating, deterring potential users.
  • Google's focus on enterprise billing and security measures can make it difficult for individual developers to get started with their services.
  • Other AI services, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, have more streamlined and user-friendly onboarding processes.
  • Dynamic pricing and price discrimination can be seen as unfair and exploitative, particularly in industries where pricing information is not transparent.
  • Some commenters have had similar experiences with other Google services, such as Google AdWords, which can be difficult to navigate and prone to banning legitimate users.
  • The importance of instant self-signup and transparent pricing is emphasized, as it allows users to quickly and easily start using a service without having to interact with salespeople or wait for approval.
  • The lab supply industry is cited as an example of an industry where dynamic pricing and price discrimination are particularly problematic, with vendors using publicly available information to determine prices.
  • Some argue that banning secret discriminatory pricing and promoting transparency in pricing could help to mitigate these issues.