diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/blocks/registry.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/blocks/registry.tsx
index ac1749dab7..a50a779ce0 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/blocks/registry.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/blocks/registry.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import {
   FunctionIcon,
   Parabola02Icon,
   PencilEdit02Icon,
+  Plant01Icon,
+  Shield02Icon,
   Tag01Icon,
   TagsIcon,
   UserAccountIcon,
@@ -18,10 +20,14 @@ import type { LlmType, NodeConfig, SamplerConfig, SamplerType } from "../types";
 import {
   makeExpressionConfig,
   makeLlmConfig,
+  makeModelConfig,
+  makeModelProviderConfig,
   makeSamplerConfig,
 } from "../utils";
 import { ExpressionDialog } from "../dialogs/expression/expression-dialog";
 import { LlmDialog } from "../dialogs/llm/llm-dialog";
+import { ModelConfigDialog } from "../dialogs/models/model-config-dialog";
+import { ModelProviderDialog } from "../dialogs/models/model-provider-dialog";
 import { CategoryDialog } from "../dialogs/samplers/category-dialog";
 import { DatetimeDialog } from "../dialogs/samplers/datetime-dialog";
 import { GaussianDialog } from "../dialogs/samplers/gaussian-dialog";
@@ -31,7 +37,12 @@ import { UniformDialog } from "../dialogs/samplers/uniform-dialog";
 import { UuidDialog } from "../dialogs/samplers/uuid-dialog";
 
 export type BlockKind = "sampler" | "llm" | "expression";
-export type BlockType = SamplerType | LlmType | "expression";
+export type BlockType =
+  | SamplerType
+  | LlmType
+  | "expression"
+  | "model_provider"
+  | "model_config";
 
 type IconType = typeof CodeIcon;
 
@@ -249,6 +260,36 @@ const BLOCK_DEFINITIONS: BlockDefinition[] = [
         />
       ) : null,
   },
+  {
+    kind: "llm",
+    type: "model_provider",
+    title: "Model Provider",
+    description: "Configure API endpoint + key.",
+    icon: Shield02Icon,
+    createConfig: (id, existing) => makeModelProviderConfig(id, existing),
+    renderDialog: ({ config, onUpdate }) =>
+      config.kind === "model_provider" ? (
+        <ModelProviderDialog
+          config={config}
+          onUpdate={(patch) => onUpdate(config.id, patch)}
+        />
+      ) : null,
+  },
+  {
+    kind: "llm",
+    type: "model_config",
+    title: "Model Config",
+    description: "Alias + model + inference params.",
+    icon: Plant01Icon,
+    createConfig: (id, existing) => makeModelConfig(id, existing),
+    renderDialog: ({ config, onUpdate }) =>
+      config.kind === "model_config" ? (
+        <ModelConfigDialog
+          config={config}
+          onUpdate={(patch) => onUpdate(config.id, patch)}
+        />
+      ) : null,
+  },
   {
     kind: "expression",
     type: "expression",
@@ -297,6 +338,12 @@ export function getBlockDefinitionForConfig(
   if (config.kind === "llm") {
     return getBlockDefinition("llm", config.llm_type);
   }
+  if (config.kind === "model_provider") {
+    return getBlockDefinition("llm", "model_provider");
+  }
+  if (config.kind === "model_config") {
+    return getBlockDefinition("llm", "model_config");
+  }
   return getBlockDefinition("expression", "expression");
 }
 
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/canvas-lab-page.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/canvas-lab-page.tsx
index a726e027d7..c841b9a816 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/canvas-lab-page.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/canvas-lab-page.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import { importCanvasPayload } from "./utils/import";
 import { buildCanvasPayload } from "./utils/payload";
 
 const NODE_TYPES: NodeTypes = { builder: CanvasNode };
-const EDGE_TYPES: EdgeTypes = { canvas: CanvasEdge };
+const EDGE_TYPES: EdgeTypes = { canvas: CanvasEdge, semantic: CanvasEdge };
 
 type LayoutControlsProps = {
   direction: "LR" | "TB";
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ export function CanvasLabPage(): ReactElement {
     onConnect,
     addSamplerNode,
     addLlmNode,
+    addModelProviderNode,
+    addModelConfigNode,
     addExpressionNode,
     openConfig,
     updateConfig,
@@ -100,6 +102,8 @@ export function CanvasLabPage(): ReactElement {
       onConnect: state.onConnect,
       addSamplerNode: state.addSamplerNode,
       addLlmNode: state.addLlmNode,
+      addModelProviderNode: state.addModelProviderNode,
+      addModelConfigNode: state.addModelConfigNode,
       addExpressionNode: state.addExpressionNode,
       openConfig: state.openConfig,
       updateConfig: state.updateConfig,
@@ -306,6 +310,8 @@ export function CanvasLabPage(): ReactElement {
                 onViewChange={setSheetView}
                 onAddSampler={addSamplerNode}
                 onAddLlm={addLlmNode}
+                onAddModelProvider={addModelProviderNode}
+                onAddModelConfig={addModelConfigNode}
                 onAddExpression={addExpressionNode}
               />
             </Panel>
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/block-sheet.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/block-sheet.tsx
index 4e19b6e28e..fb3b2cceba 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/block-sheet.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/block-sheet.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ type BlockSheetProps = {
   onViewChange: (view: SheetView) => void;
   onAddSampler: (type: SamplerType) => void;
   onAddLlm: (type: LlmType) => void;
+  onAddModelProvider: () => void;
+  onAddModelConfig: () => void;
   onAddExpression: () => void;
 };
 
@@ -92,6 +94,8 @@ export function BlockSheet({
   onViewChange,
   onAddSampler,
   onAddLlm,
+  onAddModelProvider,
+  onAddModelConfig,
   onAddExpression,
 }: BlockSheetProps): ReactElement {
   const title = getSheetTitle(view);
@@ -157,7 +161,13 @@ export function BlockSheet({
                     if (item.kind === "sampler") {
                       onAddSampler(item.type as SamplerType);
                     } else if (item.kind === "llm") {
-                      onAddLlm(item.type as LlmType);
+                      if (item.type === "model_provider") {
+                        onAddModelProvider();
+                      } else if (item.type === "model_config") {
+                        onAddModelConfig();
+                      } else {
+                        onAddLlm(item.type as LlmType);
+                      }
                     } else {
                       onAddExpression();
                     }
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-edge.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-edge.tsx
index 6ae2408054..d56906b707 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-edge.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-edge.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export const CanvasEdge = memo(function CanvasEdge({
   sourcePosition,
   targetPosition,
   style,
+  type,
 }: EdgeProps): JSX.Element {
   const [path] = getSmoothStepPath({
     sourceX,
@@ -22,5 +23,10 @@ export const CanvasEdge = memo(function CanvasEdge({
     offset: 16,
   });
 
-  return <BaseEdge id={id} path={path} style={style} />;
+  const nextStyle =
+    type === "semantic"
+      ? { ...style, strokeDasharray: "4 4" }
+      : style;
+
+  return <BaseEdge id={id} path={path} style={nextStyle} />;
 });
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-node.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-node.tsx
index 60283a6bea..0a4b19824c 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-node.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/components/canvas-node.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import {
   FunctionIcon,
   Parabola02Icon,
   PencilEdit02Icon,
+  Plant01Icon,
+  Shield02Icon,
   Tag01Icon,
   TagsIcon,
   UserAccountIcon,
@@ -36,6 +38,12 @@ const NODE_META = {
   expression: {
     tone: "bg-sky-50 text-sky-600 border-sky-100",
   },
+  model_provider: {
+    tone: "bg-amber-50 text-amber-600 border-amber-100",
+  },
+  model_config: {
+    tone: "bg-indigo-50 text-indigo-600 border-indigo-100",
+  },
 } as const;
 
 const SAMPLER_ICONS: Record<SamplerType, IconType> = {
@@ -69,6 +77,12 @@ function resolveNodeIcon(
   if (kind === "expression") {
     return FunctionIcon;
   }
+  if (kind === "model_provider") {
+    return Shield02Icon;
+  }
+  if (kind === "model_config") {
+    return Plant01Icon;
+  }
   return DiceFaces03Icon;
 }
 
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-config-dialog.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-config-dialog.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0848ac0ee1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-config-dialog.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+import { Checkbox } from "@/components/ui/checkbox";
+import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import type { ReactElement } from "react";
+import type { ModelConfig } from "../../types";
+import { useCanvasLabStore } from "../../stores/canvas-lab";
+import { NameField } from "../shared/name-field";
+
+type ModelConfigDialogProps = {
+  config: ModelConfig;
+  onUpdate: (patch: Partial<ModelConfig>) => void;
+};
+
+export function ModelConfigDialog({
+  config,
+  onUpdate,
+}: ModelConfigDialogProps): ReactElement {
+  const providerOptions = useCanvasLabStore((state) =>
+    Object.values(state.configs)
+      .filter((item) => item.kind === "model_provider")
+      .map((item) => item.name),
+  );
+  const modelId = `${config.id}-model`;
+  const providerId = `${config.id}-provider`;
+  const providerListId = `${config.id}-provider-list`;
+  const tempId = `${config.id}-temperature`;
+  const topPId = `${config.id}-top-p`;
+  const maxTokensId = `${config.id}-max-tokens`;
+  const updateField = <K extends keyof ModelConfig>(
+    key: K,
+    value: ModelConfig[K],
+  ) => {
+    onUpdate({ [key]: value } as Partial<ModelConfig>);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-4">
+      <NameField
+        value={config.name}
+        onChange={(value) => onUpdate({ name: value })}
+      />
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={modelId}
+        >
+          Model
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={modelId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder="gpt-4o-mini"
+          value={config.model}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("model", event.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={providerId}
+        >
+          Provider name
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={providerId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          value={config.provider}
+          list={providerListId}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("provider", event.target.value)}
+        />
+        <datalist id={providerListId}>
+          {providerOptions.map((provider) => (
+            <option key={provider} value={provider} />
+          ))}
+        </datalist>
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground">
+          Inference
+        </label>
+        <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-2">
+          <Input
+            id={tempId}
+            className="nodrag"
+            placeholder="Temp"
+            value={config.inference_temperature ?? ""}
+            onChange={(event) =>
+              updateField("inference_temperature", event.target.value)
+            }
+          />
+          <Input
+            id={topPId}
+            className="nodrag"
+            placeholder="Top_p"
+            value={config.inference_top_p ?? ""}
+            onChange={(event) =>
+              updateField("inference_top_p", event.target.value)
+            }
+          />
+          <Input
+            id={maxTokensId}
+            className="nodrag"
+            placeholder="Max tokens"
+            value={config.inference_max_tokens ?? ""}
+            onChange={(event) =>
+              updateField("inference_max_tokens", event.target.value)
+            }
+          />
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <label className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground">
+        <Checkbox
+          checked={config.skip_health_check ?? false}
+          onCheckedChange={(value) =>
+            updateField("skip_health_check", Boolean(value))
+          }
+        />
+        Skip health check
+      </label>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-provider-dialog.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-provider-dialog.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..182184fd25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/dialogs/models/model-provider-dialog.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
+import type { ReactElement } from "react";
+import type { ModelProviderConfig } from "../../types";
+import { NameField } from "../shared/name-field";
+
+type ModelProviderDialogProps = {
+  config: ModelProviderConfig;
+  onUpdate: (patch: Partial<ModelProviderConfig>) => void;
+};
+
+export function ModelProviderDialog({
+  config,
+  onUpdate,
+}: ModelProviderDialogProps): ReactElement {
+  const endpointId = `${config.id}-endpoint`;
+  const providerTypeId = `${config.id}-provider-type`;
+  const apiKeyEnvId = `${config.id}-api-key-env`;
+  const apiKeyId = `${config.id}-api-key`;
+  const extraHeadersId = `${config.id}-extra-headers`;
+  const extraBodyId = `${config.id}-extra-body`;
+  const updateField = <K extends keyof ModelProviderConfig>(
+    key: K,
+    value: ModelProviderConfig[K],
+  ) => {
+    onUpdate({ [key]: value } as Partial<ModelProviderConfig>);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-4">
+      <NameField
+        value={config.name}
+        onChange={(value) => onUpdate({ name: value })}
+      />
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={providerTypeId}
+        >
+          Provider type
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={providerTypeId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder="openai"
+          value={config.provider_type}
+          onChange={(event) =>
+            updateField("provider_type", event.target.value)
+          }
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={endpointId}
+        >
+          Endpoint
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={endpointId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder="https://..."
+          value={config.endpoint}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("endpoint", event.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={apiKeyEnvId}
+        >
+          API key env (optional)
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={apiKeyEnvId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder="OPENAI_API_KEY"
+          value={config.api_key_env ?? ""}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("api_key_env", event.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={apiKeyId}
+        >
+          API key (optional)
+        </label>
+        <Input
+          id={apiKeyId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          value={config.api_key ?? ""}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("api_key", event.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={extraHeadersId}
+        >
+          Extra headers (JSON)
+        </label>
+        <Textarea
+          id={extraHeadersId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder='{"X-Header": "value"}'
+          value={config.extra_headers ?? ""}
+          onChange={(event) =>
+            updateField("extra_headers", event.target.value)
+          }
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="grid gap-2">
+        <label
+          className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground"
+          htmlFor={extraBodyId}
+        >
+          Extra body (JSON)
+        </label>
+        <Textarea
+          id={extraBodyId}
+          className="nodrag"
+          placeholder='{"key": "value"}'
+          value={config.extra_body ?? ""}
+          onChange={(event) => updateField("extra_body", event.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab-helpers.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab-helpers.ts
index 9015444b43..8818720c22 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab-helpers.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab-helpers.ts
@@ -136,6 +136,14 @@ export function applyRenameToConfig(
       subcategory_parent: to,
     };
   }
+  if (config.kind === "model_config" && config.provider === from) {
+    const base = next === config ? config : next;
+    next = { ...base, provider: to };
+  }
+  if (config.kind === "llm" && config.model_alias === from) {
+    const base = next === config ? config : next;
+    next = { ...base, model_alias: to };
+  }
   return next;
 }
 
@@ -158,6 +166,14 @@ export function applyRemovalToConfig(
       subcategory_mapping: {},
     };
   }
+  if (config.kind === "model_config" && config.provider === ref) {
+    const base = next === config ? config : next;
+    next = { ...base, provider: "" };
+  }
+  if (config.kind === "llm" && config.model_alias === ref) {
+    const base = next === config ? config : next;
+    next = { ...base, model_alias: "" };
+  }
   return next;
 }
 
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab.ts
index b7e41f3d70..6afdf8efc6 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/stores/canvas-lab.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import type {
   CanvasNode,
   LayoutDirection,
   LlmType,
+  ModelConfig,
   NodeConfig,
   SamplerConfig,
   SamplerType,
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ type CanvasLabState = {
   applyLayout: () => void;
   addSamplerNode: (type: SamplerType) => void;
   addLlmNode: (type: LlmType) => void;
+  addModelProviderNode: () => void;
+  addModelConfigNode: () => void;
   addExpressionNode: () => void;
   updateConfig: (id: string, patch: Partial<NodeConfig>) => void;
   loadCanvas: (snapshot: CanvasSnapshot) => void;
@@ -119,6 +122,30 @@ export const useCanvasLabStore = create<CanvasLabState>((set, get) => ({
       return buildNodeUpdate(state, config, state.layoutDirection);
     });
   },
+  addModelProviderNode: () => {
+    set((state) => {
+      const id = `n${state.nextId}`;
+      const existing = Object.values(state.configs);
+      const definition = getBlockDefinition("llm", "model_provider");
+      if (!definition) {
+        return state;
+      }
+      const config = definition.createConfig(id, existing);
+      return buildNodeUpdate(state, config, state.layoutDirection);
+    });
+  },
+  addModelConfigNode: () => {
+    set((state) => {
+      const id = `n${state.nextId}`;
+      const existing = Object.values(state.configs);
+      const definition = getBlockDefinition("llm", "model_config");
+      if (!definition) {
+        return state;
+      }
+      const config = definition.createConfig(id, existing);
+      return buildNodeUpdate(state, config, state.layoutDirection);
+    });
+  },
   addExpressionNode: () => {
     set((state) => {
       const id = `n${state.nextId}`;
@@ -187,12 +214,43 @@ export const useCanvasLabStore = create<CanvasLabState>((set, get) => ({
               target: id,
               sourceHandle: null,
               targetHandle: null,
+              type: "semantic",
             },
             edges,
           );
         }
       }
 
+      const hasProviderPatch = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(
+        patch,
+        "provider",
+      );
+      if (current.kind === "model_config" && hasProviderPatch) {
+        const nextProvider = (patch as Partial<ModelConfig>).provider ?? "";
+        edges = edges.filter((edge) => {
+          if (edge.target !== id) {
+            return true;
+          }
+          const source = configs[edge.source];
+          return !(source && source.kind === "model_provider");
+        });
+        if (nextProvider) {
+          const providerId = findNodeIdByName(configs, nextProvider);
+          if (providerId) {
+            edges = addEdge(
+              {
+                source: providerId,
+                target: id,
+                sourceHandle: null,
+                targetHandle: null,
+                type: "semantic",
+              },
+              edges,
+            );
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
       if (isCategoryConfig(current)) {
         const nextCategory = isCategoryConfig(next) ? next : current;
         const oldValues = current.values ?? [];
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/types/index.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/types/index.ts
index 314aa9ac1c..311799c157 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/types/index.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/types/index.ts
@@ -19,9 +19,14 @@ export type LayoutDirection = "LR" | "TB";
 export type CanvasNodeData = {
   title: string;
   name: string;
-  kind: "sampler" | "llm" | "expression";
+  kind: "sampler" | "llm" | "expression" | "model_provider" | "model_config";
   subtype: string;
-  blockType: SamplerType | LlmType | "expression";
+  blockType:
+    | SamplerType
+    | LlmType
+    | "expression"
+    | "model_provider"
+    | "model_config";
   layoutDirection?: LayoutDirection;
 };
 
@@ -94,6 +99,39 @@ export type LlmConfig = {
   scores?: Score[];
 };
 
+export type ModelProviderConfig = {
+  id: string;
+  kind: "model_provider";
+  name: string;
+  endpoint: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  provider_type: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  api_key_env?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  api_key?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  extra_headers?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  extra_body?: string;
+};
+
+export type ModelConfig = {
+  id: string;
+  kind: "model_config";
+  name: string;
+  model: string;
+  provider: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  inference_temperature?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  inference_top_p?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  inference_max_tokens?: string;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+  skip_health_check?: boolean;
+};
+
 export type ExpressionConfig = {
   id: string;
   kind: "expression";
@@ -102,4 +140,9 @@ export type ExpressionConfig = {
   dtype: ExpressionDtype;
 };
 
-export type NodeConfig = SamplerConfig | LlmConfig | ExpressionConfig;
+export type NodeConfig =
+  | SamplerConfig
+  | LlmConfig
+  | ExpressionConfig
+  | ModelProviderConfig
+  | ModelConfig;
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/graph.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/graph.ts
index 6580381838..bcebfd67fd 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/graph.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/graph.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,21 @@ function syncSubcategoryMapping(
   };
 }
 
+function isSemanticEdge(source: NodeConfig, target: NodeConfig): boolean {
+  if (source.kind === "model_provider" && target.kind === "model_config") {
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (source.kind === "model_config" && target.kind === "llm") {
+    return true;
+  }
+  return (
+    source.kind === "sampler" &&
+    source.sampler_type === "category" &&
+    target.kind === "sampler" &&
+    target.sampler_type === "subcategory"
+  );
+}
+
 export function isValidCanvasConnection(
   connection: Connection,
   configs: Record<string, NodeConfig>,
@@ -73,8 +88,19 @@ export function applyCanvasConnection(
   if (!(source && target)) {
     return { edges };
   }
-  const nextEdges = addEdge({ ...connection, type: "canvas" }, edges);
-  if (isLlmConfig(target)) {
+  const nextEdges = addEdge(
+    { ...connection, type: isSemanticEdge(source, target) ? "semantic" : "canvas" },
+    edges,
+  );
+  if (source.kind === "model_provider" && target.kind === "model_config") {
+    const next = { ...target, provider: source.name };
+    return { edges: nextEdges, configs: { ...configs, [target.id]: next } };
+  }
+  if (source.kind === "model_config" && target.kind === "llm") {
+    const next = { ...target, model_alias: source.name };
+    return { edges: nextEdges, configs: { ...configs, [target.id]: next } };
+  }
+  if (isLlmConfig(target) && source.kind !== "model_provider" && source.kind !== "model_config") {
     const ref = `{{ ${source.name} }}`;
     const next = {
       ...target,
@@ -82,7 +108,7 @@ export function applyCanvasConnection(
     };
     return { edges: nextEdges, configs: { ...configs, [target.id]: next } };
   }
-  if (isExpressionConfig(target)) {
+  if (isExpressionConfig(target) && source.kind !== "model_provider" && source.kind !== "model_config") {
     const ref = `{{ ${source.name} }}`;
     const next = {
       ...target,
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/edges.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/edges.ts
index 76fd94f558..7389d17e58 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/edges.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/edges.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ import { extractRefs } from "./helpers";
 export function buildEdges(
   configs: NodeConfig[],
   nameToId: Map<string, string>,
-  uiEdges: Array<{ from: string; to: string }> | null,
+  uiEdges: Array<{ from: string; to: string; type?: string }> | null,
 ): Edge[] {
   const edges: Edge[] = [];
   const seen = new Set<string>();
-  const addEdgeByName = (from: string, to: string) => {
+  const addEdgeByName = (from: string, to: string, type?: string) => {
     const sourceId = nameToId.get(from);
     const targetId = nameToId.get(to);
     if (!(sourceId && targetId)) {
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ export function buildEdges(
       id: `e-${key}`,
       source: sourceId,
       target: targetId,
-      type: "canvas",
+      type: type ?? "canvas",
     });
   };
 
   if (uiEdges && uiEdges.length > 0) {
     for (const edge of uiEdges) {
-      addEdgeByName(edge.from, edge.to);
+      addEdgeByName(edge.from, edge.to, edge.type);
     }
     return edges;
   }
@@ -54,7 +54,13 @@ export function buildEdges(
       config.sampler_type === "subcategory" &&
       config.subcategory_parent
     ) {
-      addEdgeByName(config.subcategory_parent, config.name);
+      addEdgeByName(config.subcategory_parent, config.name, "semantic");
+    }
+    if (config.kind === "model_config" && config.provider) {
+      addEdgeByName(config.provider, config.name, "semantic");
+    }
+    if (config.kind === "llm" && config.model_alias) {
+      addEdgeByName(config.model_alias, config.name, "semantic");
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/importer.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/importer.ts
index ecd8471af7..13cdda1de8 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/importer.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/importer.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import type { NodeConfig } from "../../types";
 import { buildEdges } from "./edges";
-import { isRecord, parseJson } from "./helpers";
-import { parseColumn } from "./parsers";
+import { isRecord, parseJson, readString } from "./helpers";
+import {
+  parseColumn,
+  parseModelConfig,
+  parseModelProvider,
+} from "./parsers";
 import { buildNodes, parseUi } from "./ui";
 import type { ImportResult } from "./types";
 
@@ -39,12 +43,61 @@ export function importCanvasPayload(input: string): ImportResult {
   const configs: NodeConfig[] = [];
   const nameToId = new Map<string, string>();
 
+  let nextId = 1;
+
+  if (Array.isArray(recipe.model_providers)) {
+    recipe.model_providers.forEach((provider, index) => {
+      if (!isRecord(provider)) {
+        errors.push(`Model provider ${index + 1}: invalid object.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      const name = readString(provider.name);
+      if (!name) {
+        errors.push(`Model provider ${index + 1}: missing name.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      const id = `n${nextId}`;
+      nextId += 1;
+      const config = parseModelProvider(provider, name, id);
+      if (nameToId.has(config.name)) {
+        errors.push(`Duplicate column name: ${config.name}.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      nameToId.set(config.name, config.id);
+      configs.push(config);
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(recipe.model_configs)) {
+    recipe.model_configs.forEach((model, index) => {
+      if (!isRecord(model)) {
+        errors.push(`Model config ${index + 1}: invalid object.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      const name = readString(model.alias) ?? readString(model.name);
+      if (!name) {
+        errors.push(`Model config ${index + 1}: missing alias.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      const id = `n${nextId}`;
+      nextId += 1;
+      const config = parseModelConfig(model, name, id);
+      if (nameToId.has(config.name)) {
+        errors.push(`Duplicate column name: ${config.name}.`);
+        return;
+      }
+      nameToId.set(config.name, config.id);
+      configs.push(config);
+    });
+  }
+
   recipe.columns.forEach((column, index) => {
     if (!isRecord(column)) {
       errors.push(`Column ${index + 1}: invalid object.`);
       return;
     }
-    const id = `n${index + 1}`;
+    const id = `n${nextId}`;
+    nextId += 1;
     const config = parseColumn(column, id, errors);
     if (!config) {
       return;
@@ -76,7 +129,7 @@ export function importCanvasPayload(input: string): ImportResult {
       configs: Object.fromEntries(configs.map((config) => [config.id, config])),
       nodes,
       edges,
-      nextId: configs.length + 1,
+      nextId,
       nextY: maxY + 140,
     },
   };
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/parsers.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/parsers.ts
index 5fac11a373..a20a6ca00b 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/parsers.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/parsers.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import type {
   ExpressionConfig,
   ExpressionDtype,
   LlmConfig,
+  ModelConfig,
+  ModelProviderConfig,
   NodeConfig,
   SamplerConfig,
   SamplerType,
@@ -234,6 +236,61 @@ function parseLlm(
   };
 }
 
+export function parseModelProvider(
+  provider: Record<string, unknown>,
+  name: string,
+  id: string,
+): ModelProviderConfig {
+  return {
+    id,
+    kind: "model_provider",
+    name,
+    endpoint: readString(provider.endpoint) ?? "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    provider_type: readString(provider.provider_type) ?? "openai",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key_env: readString(provider.api_key_env) ?? "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key: readString(provider.api_key) ?? "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_headers: isRecord(provider.extra_headers)
+      ? JSON.stringify(provider.extra_headers, null, 2)
+      : "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_body: isRecord(provider.extra_body)
+      ? JSON.stringify(provider.extra_body, null, 2)
+      : "",
+  };
+}
+
+export function parseModelConfig(
+  model: Record<string, unknown>,
+  name: string,
+  id: string,
+): ModelConfig {
+  const inference = isRecord(model.inference_parameters)
+    ? (model.inference_parameters as Record<string, unknown>)
+    : {};
+  return {
+    id,
+    kind: "model_config",
+    name,
+    model: readString(model.model) ?? "",
+    provider: readString(model.provider) ?? "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_temperature: readNumberString(inference.temperature),
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_top_p: readNumberString(inference.top_p),
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_max_tokens: readNumberString(inference.max_tokens),
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    skip_health_check:
+      typeof model.skip_health_check === "boolean"
+        ? model.skip_health_check
+        : false,
+  };
+}
+
 function parseExpression(
   column: Record<string, unknown>,
   name: string,
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/ui.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/ui.ts
index 4586bbd26b..7e546aa3f4 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/ui.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/import/ui.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ export function parseUi(
   ui: UiInput | null,
 ): {
   positions: Map<string, { x: number; y: number }>;
-  edges: Array<{ from: string; to: string }> | null;
+  edges: Array<{ from: string; to: string; type?: string }> | null;
 } {
   const positions = new Map<string, { x: number; y: number }>();
-  const edges: Array<{ from: string; to: string }> = [];
+  const edges: Array<{ from: string; to: string; type?: string }> = [];
   if (ui && Array.isArray(ui.nodes)) {
     for (const node of ui.nodes) {
       if (isRecord(node)) {
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ export function parseUi(
         const from = readString(edge.from);
         const to = readString(edge.to);
         if (from && to) {
-          edges.push({ from, to });
+          edges.push({
+            from,
+            to,
+            type: readString(edge.type) ?? undefined,
+          });
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/index.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/index.ts
index cb6c9abdcf..92acfa1d82 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/index.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/index.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import type {
   LayoutDirection,
   LlmConfig,
   LlmType,
+  ModelConfig,
+  ModelProviderConfig,
   NodeConfig,
   SamplerConfig,
   SamplerType,
@@ -220,6 +222,49 @@ export function makeLlmConfig(
   };
 }
 
+export function makeModelProviderConfig(
+  id: string,
+  existing: NodeConfig[],
+): ModelProviderConfig {
+  return {
+    id,
+    kind: "model_provider",
+    name: nextName(existing, "provider"),
+    endpoint: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    provider_type: "openai",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key_env: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_headers: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_body: "",
+  };
+}
+
+export function makeModelConfig(
+  id: string,
+  existing: NodeConfig[],
+): ModelConfig {
+  return {
+    id,
+    kind: "model_config",
+    name: nextName(existing, "model"),
+    model: "",
+    provider: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_temperature: "0.7",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_max_tokens: "256",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_top_p: "",
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    skip_health_check: false,
+  };
+}
+
 export function makeExpressionConfig(
   id: string,
   existing: NodeConfig[],
@@ -269,6 +314,26 @@ export function nodeDataFromConfig(
       layoutDirection,
     };
   }
+  if (config.kind === "model_provider") {
+    return {
+      title: "Model Provider",
+      kind: "model_provider",
+      subtype: config.provider_type || "Provider",
+      blockType: "model_provider",
+      name: config.name,
+      layoutDirection,
+    };
+  }
+  if (config.kind === "model_config") {
+    return {
+      title: "Model Config",
+      kind: "model_config",
+      subtype: config.model || "Model",
+      blockType: "model_config",
+      name: config.name,
+      layoutDirection,
+    };
+  }
   return {
     title: "LLM",
     kind: "llm",
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/payload.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/payload.ts
index 7682518e89..d9ca82b5d5 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/payload.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/canvas-lab/utils/payload.ts
@@ -3,35 +3,13 @@ import type {
   CanvasNode,
   ExpressionConfig,
   LlmConfig,
+  ModelConfig,
+  ModelProviderConfig,
   NodeConfig,
   SamplerConfig,
 } from "../types";
 import { getConfigErrors } from "./index";
 
-const DEFAULT_PROVIDER = {
-  name: "openrouter",
-  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-  provider_type: "openai",
-  endpoint: "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-  api_key_env: "OPENROUTER_API_KEY",
-  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-  extra_headers: {},
-  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-  extra_body: {},
-};
-
-const DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
-  provider: "openrouter",
-  model: "allenai/olmo-3.1-32b-instruct",
-  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-  inference_parameters: {
-    temperature: 0.7,
-    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
-    max_tokens: 256,
-  },
-};
-
 type CanvasPayload = {
   recipe: {
     // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
@@ -49,7 +27,7 @@ type CanvasPayload = {
   };
   ui: {
     nodes: { id: string; x: number; y: number }[];
-    edges: { from: string; to: string }[];
+    edges: { from: string; to: string; type?: string }[];
   };
 };
 
@@ -82,6 +60,94 @@ function parseAgeRange(value?: string): [number, number] | null {
   return [min, max];
 }
 
+function parseJsonObject(
+  value: string | undefined,
+  label: string,
+  errors: string[],
+): Record<string, unknown> | undefined {
+  if (!value || !value.trim()) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(value);
+    if (parsed && typeof parsed === "object" && !Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+      return parsed as Record<string, unknown>;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    errors.push(`${label}: invalid JSON.`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  errors.push(`${label}: must be a JSON object.`);
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+function buildModelProvider(
+  config: ModelProviderConfig,
+  errors: string[],
+): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const extraHeaders = parseJsonObject(
+    config.extra_headers,
+    `Provider ${config.name} extra_headers`,
+    errors,
+  );
+  const extraBody = parseJsonObject(
+    config.extra_body,
+    `Provider ${config.name} extra_body`,
+    errors,
+  );
+  return {
+    name: config.name,
+    endpoint: config.endpoint,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    provider_type: config.provider_type,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key_env: config.api_key_env?.trim() || undefined,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    api_key: config.api_key?.trim() || undefined,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_headers: extraHeaders ?? {},
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    extra_body: extraBody ?? {},
+  };
+}
+
+function buildModelConfig(config: ModelConfig): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const inference: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+  const temp = config.inference_temperature?.trim();
+  const topP = config.inference_top_p?.trim();
+  const maxTokens = config.inference_max_tokens?.trim();
+  if (temp) {
+    const parsed = Number(temp);
+    if (Number.isFinite(parsed)) {
+      inference.temperature = parsed;
+    }
+  }
+  if (topP) {
+    const parsed = Number(topP);
+    if (Number.isFinite(parsed)) {
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+      inference.top_p = parsed;
+    }
+  }
+  if (maxTokens) {
+    const parsed = Number(maxTokens);
+    if (Number.isFinite(parsed)) {
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+      inference.max_tokens = parsed;
+    }
+  }
+  return {
+    alias: config.name,
+    model: config.model,
+    provider: config.provider || undefined,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    inference_parameters:
+      Object.keys(inference).length > 0 ? inference : undefined,
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: api schema
+    skip_health_check: config.skip_health_check || undefined,
+  };
+}
+
 function isValidSex(value?: string): value is "Male" | "Female" {
   if (!value) {
     return false;
@@ -282,6 +348,11 @@ export function buildCanvasPayload(
   const errors: string[] = [];
   const columns: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
   const modelAliases = new Set<string>();
+  const modelProviderNames = new Set<string>();
+  const modelProviders: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
+  const modelConfigs: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
+  const modelProviderConfigs: ModelProviderConfig[] = [];
+  const modelConfigConfigs: ModelConfig[] = [];
   const nameSet = new Set<string>();
   const nameToConfig = new Map<string, NodeConfig>();
 
@@ -294,7 +365,7 @@ export function buildCanvasPayload(
       errors.push(`${config.name}: ${error}`);
     }
     if (nameSet.has(config.name)) {
-      errors.push(`Duplicate column name: ${config.name}.`);
+      errors.push(`Duplicate node name: ${config.name}.`);
     }
     nameSet.add(config.name);
 
@@ -316,9 +387,16 @@ export function buildCanvasPayload(
         modelAliases.add(config.model_alias);
       }
       nameToConfig.set(config.name, config);
-    } else {
+    } else if (config.kind === "expression") {
       columns.push(buildExpressionColumn(config, errors));
       nameToConfig.set(config.name, config);
+    } else if (config.kind === "model_provider") {
+      modelProviderNames.add(config.name);
+      modelProviders.push(buildModelProvider(config, errors));
+      modelProviderConfigs.push(config);
+    } else if (config.kind === "model_config") {
+      modelConfigs.push(buildModelConfig(config));
+      modelConfigConfigs.push(config);
     }
   }
 
@@ -347,14 +425,41 @@ export function buildCanvasPayload(
     }
   }
 
-  const modelProviders = modelAliases.size > 0 ? [DEFAULT_PROVIDER] : [];
-  const modelConfigs =
-    modelAliases.size > 0
-      ? Array.from(modelAliases).map((alias) => ({
-          alias,
-          ...DEFAULT_CONFIG,
-        }))
-      : [];
+  for (const alias of modelAliases) {
+    if (
+      !modelConfigs.some(
+        (config) => (config.alias as string | undefined) === alias,
+      )
+    ) {
+      errors.push(`LLM model_alias ${alias}: missing model config.`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const config of modelConfigConfigs) {
+    const provider = config.provider.trim();
+    const alias = config.name;
+    if (modelAliases.has(alias) && !config.model.trim()) {
+      errors.push(`Model config ${alias}: model is required.`);
+    }
+    if (provider && !modelProviderNames.has(provider)) {
+      errors.push(`Model config ${alias}: provider ${provider} not found.`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const usedProviders = new Set(
+    modelConfigConfigs.map((config) => config.provider.trim()).filter(Boolean),
+  );
+  for (const provider of modelProviderConfigs) {
+    if (!usedProviders.has(provider.name)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!provider.endpoint.trim()) {
+      errors.push(`Model provider ${provider.name}: endpoint is required.`);
+    }
+    if (!provider.provider_type.trim()) {
+      errors.push(`Model provider ${provider.name}: provider_type is required.`);
+    }
+  }
 
   const uiNodes = nodes.flatMap((node) => {
     const config = configs[node.id];
@@ -380,6 +485,7 @@ export function buildCanvasPayload(
       {
         from: source.name,
         to: target.name,
+        type: edge.type ?? "canvas",
       },
     ];
   });