> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://api.thesapientcompany.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Run your first brain-response scan in a few minutes.

## Run your first scan

The API has **one** base URL — `https://www.thesapientcompany.com` — and every endpoint lives under `/api/v1`. Replace `sk_live_xxxx…` below with the **full** key you copy from Settings → API.

<Tip>
  Using an AI agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Claude Desktop)? Skip the curl and wire it up in one line — see [Connect an agent](/connect-an-agent):

  ```bash theme={null}
  claude mcp add sapient --env SAPIENT_API_KEY=sk_live_YOUR_KEY_HERE -- npx -y @thesapientcompany/mcp
  ```
</Tip>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get a key">
    Sign in at [thesapientcompany.com](https://www.thesapientcompany.com), open **Settings → API**, and create a `sk_live_` key. See [Authentication](/authentication) for details.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit a scan">
    `POST` your content to `/api/v1/scans`. You get back a scan object with a `scan_id` and a `status` of `queued`.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash cURL theme={null}
      curl https://www.thesapientcompany.com/api/v1/scans \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -d '{ "input": { "type": "video", "video_url": "https://yourcdn.com/ad.mp4" } }'
      # → { "scan_id": "qualia_run_abc123", "status": "queued", "lenses": [ … ] }
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Poll for the result">
    Poll `GET /api/v1/scans/{scan_id}` until `status` is `complete`. The completed scan holds the per-second `timeline` (each lens scored second by second), detected `moments`, and a plain-English `summary`.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash cURL theme={null}
      curl https://www.thesapientcompany.com/api/v1/scans/qualia_run_abc123 \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
      # → { "scan_id": "qualia_run_abc123", "status": "complete", "timeline": [ … ], "summary": "…" }
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>
</Steps>