An AI API token is a secret credential used to authenticate requests to an AI service. It works like a bearer secret: whoever possesses it can call the service, usually without a separate password or interactive login.
In security terms, these tokens matter because they can be stolen from code, environment variables, build logs, or compromised developer machines. Once exposed, an attacker may use the token for unauthorized model calls, consume quotas, or create unexpected charges. In supply-chain attacks, malicious packages or install scripts may try to read secrets during CI or local builds, turning routine dependency installation into credential theft. Defenders reduce this risk by scoping tokens narrowly, storing them in secret managers, and keeping untrusted code away from sensitive build contexts.