An AI media generation API should let you choose the right model without rebuilding authentication, billing, validation, and job polling every time. The MakeInfluencer REST API exposes image generation, image editing, text-to-video, image-to-video, motion control, and lip sync behind one model-aware endpoint.

The commercial idea is deliberately simple: the API, MCP connector, and dashboard spend the **same MakeInfluencer credits at the same model prices**. There is no second API balance and no per-request markup.

<StatHighlight>
  1 API Key | 1 Credit Balance | 202 Async Jobs | 0 Cost to Preview
</StatHighlight>

<AnimatedBanner
  title="One API for Creative Models"
  subtitle="Discover the schema, preview the cost, queue the job, poll the result"
  badge="REST API"
/>

## The Four-Request Workflow

Every model follows the same lifecycle, even when its fields differ.

<StepFlow>
  <Step
    number="1"
    title="Discover"
    description="List models or fetch one model to get its exact fields, defaults, enum options, and input limits."
  />
  <Step
    number="2"
    title="Preview"
    description="Send the planned model input to preview-credits. Validation runs, but nothing is charged."
  />
  <Step
    number="3"
    title="Generate"
    description="POST the same input to the model generation endpoint. The API returns HTTP 202 and a generation ID."
  />
  <Step
    number="4"
    title="Poll"
    description="Poll the owned image or video status endpoint until terminal is true. On success, ready is true and the response includes the output URL."
  />
</StepFlow>

This contract matters because AI models are not interchangeable. An image editor may need several image URLs. An image-to-video model needs a start frame. InfiniteTalk needs a character image, audio URL, and duration. MakeInfluencer keeps the outer API stable while publishing each model's real inner schema.

## Authentication

Create a revocable `mi_` key in [Dashboard → Developer API → Keys](/dashboard/developers?tab=keys), then send it as a Bearer token.

```bash
curl https://www.makeinfluencer.ai/api/v1/account \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $MAKEINFLUENCER_API_KEY"
```

Keys are displayed once, stored as hashes, and can be revoked without changing your login. The same key also works for compatible MCP clients.

<Callout type="tip" title="Keep Keys Server-Side">
  Never place an API key in browser JavaScript or a public mobile bundle. Call
  MakeInfluencer from your server, worker, or automation platform and keep the
  key in its secret store.
</Callout>

## Discover AI Image and Video Models

Start with the catalog instead of guessing field names:

```bash
curl https://www.makeinfluencer.ai/api/v1/models \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $MAKEINFLUENCER_API_KEY"
```

Each model includes:

- A stable model ID used in the URL
- Media kind: image or video
- Category and use cases
- Accepted fields and field types
- Required flags, defaults, ranges, and enum options
- Capabilities such as text-to-video or image-to-video

For a human-readable version, open the [developer model directory](/developers/models). It contains a dedicated API page for every live model, including [HappyHorse 1](/developers/models/happyhorse-1-api), [Qwen Image 2 Pro Edit](/developers/models/qwen-image-2-pro-edit-api), [Seedance 2 Fast](/developers/models/seedance-2-fast-api), and [InfiniteTalk](/developers/models/infinitetalk-api).

## Preview Credits Before Spending

Credit preview uses the same registry validation and pricing function as generation. If the input is invalid, fix it before spending anything.

```bash
curl --request POST \
  https://www.makeinfluencer.ai/api/v1/models/happyhorse1/preview-credits \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $MAKEINFLUENCER_API_KEY" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "input": {
      "prompt": "A fashion creator walking through neon Tokyo",
      "aspectRatio": "9:16",
      "duration": 5,
      "resolution": "720p"
    }
  }'
```

The response contains the model ID and a credit quote with a human-readable description. Previewing does not reserve credits and does not start a generation.

This is useful for products with user budgets. You can show the quote in your UI, reject unexpectedly expensive requests, or estimate a batch before a scheduled run begins.

## Create an Image or Video

Use the model ID in the URL and place model-specific fields inside `input`:

```bash
curl --request POST \
  https://www.makeinfluencer.ai/api/v1/models/happyhorse1/generations \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $MAKEINFLUENCER_API_KEY" \
  --header "Idempotency-Key: campaign-video-001" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "input": {
      "prompt": "A fashion creator walking through neon Tokyo",
      "aspectRatio": "9:16",
      "duration": 5,
      "resolution": "720p"
    }
  }'
```

A successful request returns HTTP `202`:

```json
{
  "status": "queued",
  "kind": "video",
  "modelId": "happyhorse1",
  "ids": ["GENERATION_ID"]
}
```

The accepted response also carries a `creditsCost` field holding the exact amount charged for that input. Credit costs move whenever provider pricing moves, so read the live number from [the model's API page](/developers/models/happyhorse-1-api) or from the `preview-credits` endpoint rather than hard-coding one.

The `Idempotency-Key` protects paid operations when a network timeout makes the result uncertain. Repeating the same key and payload replays the first response. Reusing the key with different input returns a conflict instead of charging for an accidental second job.

## Poll the Result

Use the `kind` and first generation ID returned by the create call:

```bash
curl https://www.makeinfluencer.ai/api/v1/generations/video/GENERATION_ID \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $MAKEINFLUENCER_API_KEY"
```

Video status responses expose one `url`; image responses expose `urls` because image requests may create several copies. Status lookups are ownership-scoped, so one account cannot inspect another account's generation by guessing an ID.

Do not poll in a tight loop. A backoff such as 5, 10, 20, then 30 seconds keeps the workflow responsive without wasting request capacity.

## Which API Should You Use?

| Goal                                 | Suggested API                                                             |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Create a reusable AI persona         | [AI Influencer Image API](/developers/models/ai-influencer-image-api)     |
| Edit an outfit or background         | [Qwen Image 2 Pro Edit API](/developers/models/qwen-image-2-pro-edit-api) |
| Generate low-latency campaign images | [Z-Image Turbo API](/developers/models/z-image-turbo-api)                 |
| Animate a creator image quickly      | [Seedance 2 Fast API](/developers/models/seedance-2-fast-api)             |
| Generate cinematic clips             | [HappyHorse 1 API](/developers/models/happyhorse-1-api)                   |
| Turn portrait plus audio into speech | [InfiniteTalk API](/developers/models/infinitetalk-api)                   |

The best production architecture does not hard-code one provider forever. Store the MakeInfluencer model ID with each workflow template and let the API's model catalog tell your application which controls to show.

## REST API vs MCP

REST and MCP are two interfaces over shared generation services.

<ComparisonCard winner="REST API" loser="MCP Connector">
  Best for|Deterministic app and automation workflows|Conversational creation
  with an AI agent Authentication|Bearer API key|OAuth in Claude or Bearer key
  in other clients Control|Exact endpoint and payload|Tool selection delegated
  to the agent Billing|Shared MakeInfluencer credits|Shared MakeInfluencer
  credits Model catalog|GET /models|Model-listing tools
</ComparisonCard>

Use REST for a product backend, cron job, n8n flow, or queue worker. Use the [MCP integration](/developers/mcp) when a person wants Claude, Cursor, or another agent client to request and iterate on media through conversation.

## Production Checklist

- Preview credits before large or user-triggered jobs
- Add a unique idempotency key to every paid request
- Store `kind`, `modelId`, and returned IDs together
- Poll with backoff and stop on terminal failure states
- Treat output URLs as application data, not as the job ID
- Handle `402` by sending the user to the `purchaseUrl` from `/account`
- Respect `Retry-After` on `429`
- Revoke keys immediately when a workflow or contractor no longer needs access

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does API usage cost more than dashboard usage?

No. REST, MCP, and the dashboard use the same account credit balance and model pricing. The API does not add a separate markup.

### Can I know the price before generating?

Yes. Send the exact planned `input` to the model's `preview-credits` endpoint. The request validates the input and returns the quote without charging.

### Is the API synchronous?

No. Generation returns HTTP 202 so your server does not wait for image or video inference. Poll the owned status endpoint for the result.

### Where is the complete API reference?

Use the visual [developer documentation](/developers), plain-text [`/developers.md`](/developers.md) for AI coding agents, or [`/openapi.json`](/openapi.json) for OpenAPI tooling.

### Can I switch models without integrating another provider?

Yes. Change the model ID and send that model's published input schema. Authentication, credits, asynchronous responses, status polling, and error envelopes remain consistent.

Ready to build? Explore the [MakeInfluencer AI media API](/api), open the [developer quickstart](/developers), create a key, and preview the cost of your first request.


Use one AI media generation API for image, editing, video, motion control, and lip sync models with shared credits, cost previews, and copy-paste examples.

AI Media Generation API: Images and Video with One Key

Does API usage cost more than dashboard usage?

Can I switch models without integrating another provider?

AI Media Generation API: Images and Video with One Key

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