When a team adds a new AI API route, the first milestone should be small.
Do not start with a production migration, a large benchmark, or a full agent rollout. Start with one successful request that proves the base URL, API key, model name, balance, request shape, and logs are all working.
Disclosure: I work with ModelRouter. ModelRouter is an independent third-party OpenAI-compatible AI API gateway. It is not an official service from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, or any model provider.
The first-call checklist
Before comparing models or routes, check these basics:
