Tools for makers · Cloud and apps

Claude API

Anthropic's API gives your ESP32 access to Claude, a large language model that can answer questions, explain things and write messages from sensor data.

3 lessons

What it is for

Claude is a large language model, an AI trained on huge amounts of text. Through the Claude API, any device that can reach the internet, including the ESP32, can send it a question and get an answer back in a few seconds.

A system prompt tells Claude who to be and how to answer: a science buddy, a talking plant or a desk assistant. Your device sends the conversation as JSON over HTTPS and shows the answer on a screen, speaks it or sends it to your phone.

The API is a paid service, and the account and API key must belong to an adult (18+). The short questions in our lessons cost well under a cent each. Set a low spend limit in the Console.

Tips

Keep your API key secret: never post a sketch online with the key in it, and delete keys you no longer use.
Ask for short answers in the system prompt, so they fit small screens and stay cheap.
Check the Console's usage page now and then.