# Choose a model

What an AI model is, how to pick the right one for a task, and how to change the model for a thread or a whole bot.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/models/choosing-a-model

## What is a model?

A **model** is the AI that does a bot's thinking. Models are made by
companies like Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), and Google (Gemini).

The bot is the helper, with its job, instructions, and computer. The model is
the brain it uses. You can give the same bot a different brain at any time.

Models differ in three ways:

| | Larger models | Smaller models |
|---|---|---|
| **Capability** | Better at hard, long, or subtle tasks | Fine for simple, clear tasks |
| **Speed** | Slower | Faster |
| **Cost** | Use more of your balance per turn | Use less |

## Which should I use?

**If you're not sure, keep the bot's default.** It's a good all-rounder.

| Your task | Try |
|---|---|
| Quick questions, short edits, simple lookups | A smaller, faster model from **Suggested**. |
| Everyday research, writing, and analysis | The default. |
| Hard problems: complex code, long documents, careful reasoning | One of the most capable models, perhaps with higher [effort](/docs/desktop/models/reasoning-effort). |
| The bot keeps getting something wrong | Try a more capable model in that thread. |
| You want a second opinion | Ask the same question in a new thread with a different model, or put two bots on different models in a [group chat](/docs/desktop/bots/group-chats). |

You can switch models in the middle of a thread. The new model picks up the
conversation where it is.

## Change the model

![The model picker: Only this thread or Thread + bot default, and the suggested models](/images/docs/desktop/model-picker.webp)

### Stop the bot, if it's working

You can't change the model in the middle of a turn. Wait for it to finish,
or click **Stop**.
### Open the model chip

Click the **model chip** in the chat header. It shows the current model's
name. Hover it to see the model and who provides it.

Don't see it? **Simple mode** hides the model chip. Turn it off in
[Settings → General](/docs/desktop/settings/general#simple-mode). The chip is
also hidden when the window is very narrow, as on a phone.
### Choose where the change applies

At the top of the list:

| Option | Changes |
|---|---|
| **Only this thread** | Just this thread. Other threads and group chats keep their model. |
| **Thread + bot default** | This thread, plus group chats and any **new** threads. Existing threads keep their model. |
### Pick a model

Click one. The next reply uses it.

## The model list

![Opening the model picker and choosing a different model](/images/docs/desktop/anim-model-picker.webp)

- **Suggested** shows a short list of good choices. Click **Show all …
  models** for everything, and **Show suggested only** to go back.
- **Search models** finds a model by name.
- The model in use has a **check mark**. The bot's default is marked
  **Default**.
- Each model shows who provides it.
- Click **↻** (**Refresh models**) to update the list.

### Where models come from

| Label | What it means | Paid from |
|---|---|---|
| **Machine** | Provided by Machine. | Your Machine balance. |
| Another provider's name | Your team connected its own AI provider key on the Machine web app. | Your team's account with that provider. |
| **(Subscription)** or **via Cursor** | Your own Claude or Cursor plan. | Your plan. See [Use your own subscription](/docs/desktop/models/own-subscriptions). |

## Set a bot's default model

The default model is used for new threads and group chats.

- In the model chip, choose **Thread + bot default** before picking a model,
  or
- open **Bot settings → Model** and choose a **Default model**.

## Tips

- **Match the model to the job.** Don't use the most expensive model to fix a
  typo.
- **Check the cost.** The usage chip in the chat header shows what the
  thread has cost. The line under a finished reply shows the model and what
  that turn cost (see [the run footer](/docs/desktop/models/questions-and-runs#the-run-footer)).
  Compare models on a typical task.
- **Different bots, different models.** A quick *Inbox* bot can use a small
  model while your *Dev* bot uses a large one.