diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 866115b6..5466ac6b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Before running RowBoat, ensure you have:
    client = Client(
        host="http://localhost:3000",
        project_id="<PROJECT_ID>",
-       project_secret="<PROJECT_SECRET>"
+       api_key="<API_KEY>"  # Generate this from /projects/<PROJECT_ID>/config
    )
 
    # Simple chat interaction
@@ -108,12 +108,12 @@ Before running RowBoat, ensure you have:
 
    You can use the API directly at [http://localhost:3000/api/v1/](http://localhost:3000/api/v1/)
    - Project ID is available in the URL of the project page
-   - Project Secret is available in the project config page
+   - API Key can be generated from the project config page at `/projects/<PROJECT_ID>/config`
 
    ```bash
    curl --location 'http://localhost:3000/api/v1/<PROJECT_ID>/chat' \
    --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-   --header 'Authorization: Bearer <PROJECT_SECRET>' \
+   --header 'Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>' \
    --data '{
        "messages": [
            {
diff --git a/apps/python-sdk/pyproject.toml b/apps/python-sdk/pyproject.toml
index 1c8cbc01..f7b40419 100644
--- a/apps/python-sdk/pyproject.toml
+++ b/apps/python-sdk/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "rowboat"
-version = "0.2.1"
+version = "1.0.0"
 authors = [
     { name = "Your Name", email = "your.email@example.com" },
 ]
diff --git a/apps/python-sdk/src/rowboat/client.py b/apps/python-sdk/src/rowboat/client.py
index e15d9c96..39085cf7 100644
--- a/apps/python-sdk/src/rowboat/client.py
+++ b/apps/python-sdk/src/rowboat/client.py
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ from .schema import (
 
 
 class Client:
-    def __init__(self, host: str, project_id: str, project_secret: str) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, host: str, project_id: str, api_key: str) -> None:
         self.base_url: str = f'{host}/api/v1/{project_id}/chat'
         self.headers: Dict[str, str] = {
             'Content-Type': 'application/json',
-            'Authorization': f'Bearer {project_secret}'
+            'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}'
         }
 
     def _call_api(
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ def weather_lookup_tool(city_name: str) -> str:
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     host: str = "<HOST>"
     project_id: str = "<PROJECT_ID>"
-    project_secret: str = "<PROJECT_SECRET>"
-    client = Client(host, project_id, project_secret)
+    api_key: str = "<API_KEY>"
+    client = Client(host, project_id, api_key)
 
     tools: Dict[str, Callable[..., str]] = {
         'weather_lookup': weather_lookup_tool
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/api/v1/utils.ts b/apps/rowboat/app/api/v1/utils.ts
index 18b317ed..aa2161b2 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/api/v1/utils.ts
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/api/v1/utils.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,26 @@
 import { NextRequest } from "next/server";
-import { projectsCollection } from "@/app/lib/mongodb";
+import { apiKeysCollection, projectsCollection } from "@/app/lib/mongodb";
 
 export async function authCheck(projectId: string, req: NextRequest, handler: () => Promise<Response>): Promise<Response> {
     const authHeader = req.headers.get('Authorization');
     if (!authHeader?.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
         return Response.json({ error: "Authorization header must be a Bearer token" }, { status: 400 });
     }
-    const token = authHeader.split(' ')[1];
-    if (!token) {
+    const key = authHeader.split(' ')[1];
+    if (!key) {
         return Response.json({ error: "Missing API key in request" }, { status: 400 });
     }
 
-    // check the key in project settings
-    const project = await projectsCollection.findOne({
-        _id: projectId,
-        secret: token,
-    });
-    if (!project) {
+    // check if api key is valid
+    // while also updating last used timestamp
+    const result = await apiKeysCollection.findOneAndUpdate(
+        {
+            projectId,
+            key,
+        },
+        { $set: { lastUsedAt: new Date().toISOString() } }
+    );
+    if (!result) {
         return Response.json({ error: "Invalid API key" }, { status: 403 });
     }
     
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/config/app.tsx b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/config/app.tsx
index e84a489c..5f74a923 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/config/app.tsx
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/config/app.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ import { getProjectConfig, updateProjectName, updateWebhookUrl, createApiKey, de
 import { CopyButton } from "@/app/lib/components/copy-button";
 import { EditableField } from "@/app/lib/components/editable-field";
 import { EyeIcon, EyeOffIcon, CopyIcon, MoreVerticalIcon, PlusIcon, EllipsisVerticalIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import { WithStringId, ApiKey } from "@/app/lib/types";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import { RelativeTime } from "@primer/react";
 
 export const metadata: Metadata = {
     title: "Project config",
@@ -142,11 +145,7 @@ export function ApiKeysSection({
 }: {
     projectId: string;
 }) {
-    const [keys, setKeys] = useState<Array<{
-        _id: string;
-        key: string;
-        createdAt: string;
-    }>>([]);
+    const [keys, setKeys] = useState<WithStringId<z.infer<typeof ApiKey>>[]>([]);
     const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
     const [message, setMessage] = useState<{
         type: 'success' | 'error' | 'info';
@@ -254,9 +253,11 @@ export function ApiKeysSection({
                                 <ApiKeyDisplay apiKey={key.key} />
                             </div>
                             <div className="flex-1 p-2">
-                                {new Date(key.createdAt).toLocaleDateString()}
+                                <RelativeTime date={new Date(key.createdAt)} />
+                            </div>
+                            <div className="flex-1 p-2">
+                                {key.lastUsedAt ? <RelativeTime date={new Date(key.lastUsedAt)} /> : 'Never'}
                             </div>
-                            <div className="flex-1 p-2">Never</div>
                             <div className="w-10 p-2">
                                 <Dropdown>
                                     <DropdownTrigger>