Model Guide
One of our core-values is to build a tool which is model-agnostic. This means we do not want to restrict users to models from just one provider, but rather allow them to choose which model from which provider to use. Each model has different strengths and we encourage you to test the different models to find the best models for your specific need.
Selecting a Model
- Whenever you start a new chat, you can select which model to use from the model selector in the chat input bar
- You can switch models mid-conversation. For example, start with a fast model for brainstorming, then switch to a more powerful one for the final output
- Set your personal default model in account settings
Auto mode
Auto is ajan's intelligent model routing option. Instead of choosing a model for every conversation, Auto analyzes your first message to understand the request and estimate its complexity, and then selects a suitable model for that conversation.
Auto is designed for everyday work: quick questions, drafting, summarizing, rewriting, and analysis. By handling the model choice automatically, it helps teams work faster and avoid spending usage on powerful models for tasks that do not need them. For tasks that require maximum reasoning depth or quality, you can still switch to a specific model at any point.
Understanding Model Naming Conventions
AI providers follow consistent naming patterns that help you quickly identify a model's capabilities. Understanding these patterns lets you choose the right model without memorizing specific versions.
Version Numbers = Capability Level
Higher version numbers generally indicate newer, more capable models. When a provider releases a new generation, they increment the major version number.
| Pattern | What it means |
|---|---|
| GPT-5 vs GPT-4 | GPT-5 is the newer generation |
| Claude 4 vs Claude 3 | Claude 4 is the newer generation |
| Gemini 2.5 vs Gemini 2.0 | Gemini 2.5 is newer within the same generation |
Size Indicators = Speed vs Intelligence Trade-off
Providers offer multiple sizes within each model family. Models without size indicators are the most intelligent but may be slower. Models with size indicators trade some capability for speed and cost efficiency.
| Indicator | Intelligence | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No indicator (e.g., "GPT-5", "Claude Sonnet") | Highest | Moderate | Complex tasks, important outputs |
| mini / nano | Medium-High | Fast | Everyday tasks, quick iterations |
| flash / fast | Medium | Very Fast | Real-time applications, high volume |
| haiku (Anthropic) | Good | Very Fast | Simple tasks, cost-sensitive use cases |
Thinking
Reasoning or Thinking capabilities are available through a toggle directly in the model selector. When enabled, the model reasons through problems step-by-step before responding, producing more accurate results on complex tasks, at the cost of a longer response time.
Thinking is well-suited for:
- Complex multi-step problems
- Mathematical and scientific analysis
- Logical deduction and planning
- Code architecture decisions
Provider Tiers
Each provider organizes their models into tiers:
| Tier | Examples | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship | GPT-5, GPT-5.x | Most capable, best for complex tasks |
| Reasoning | o-series (o3, o4) | Deep analytical tasks |
| Efficient | mini, nano variants | Fast, cost-effective |
| Tier | Examples | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Opus | Claude Opus | Most intelligent, complex reasoning |
| Sonnet | Claude Sonnet | Balanced intelligence and speed |
| Haiku | Claude Haiku | Fast, efficient for simpler tasks |
| Tier | Examples | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | Gemini Pro | Most capable, complex tasks |
| Flash | Gemini Flash | Fast, real-time applications |
| Provider | Flagship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mistral | Mistral Large | Strong multilingual, coding |
| Meta | LLaMA | Open-source, efficient |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek R1 | Strong reasoning, coding |
Choosing the Right Model
By Task Type
| Task | Recommended Model Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quick questions, brainstorming | Fast/mini variants | Speed matters, good enough quality |
| Writing emails, documents | Standard flagship | Good balance of quality and speed |
| Complex analysis, research | Flagship with Thinking enabled | Need highest accuracy |
| Coding and debugging | Anthropic Sonnet | Strong at structured tasks |
| Creative writing | Anthropic models | Known for natural, authentic tone |
| Long documents | Google Gemini | Excellent long-context handling |
| Math and science | Any model with Thinking enabled | Step-by-step problem solving |
Quick Decision Guide
Not sure where to start?
ββ Use Auto β ajan picks the right model for you
Know what you need?
ββ Simple, quick task β Use a fast/mini/flash model
ββ Complex task
ββ Deep reasoning required β Use a flagship model with Thinking enabled
ββ Otherwise β Use the standard flagship modelOur Recommendations
Choose Auto mode
Not sure which model to pick? Select Auto from the model selector. ajan analyzes your message and routes it to the right model. Fast and efficient for everyday tasks, and more capable when the request demands it.
For Everyday Tasks
Use the current flagship model from OpenAI or Anthropic. These provide the best balance of capability and speed for general use. Look for models without size indicators (no "mini", "fast", etc.).
For Coding and Writing
Anthropic's Sonnet models are consistently praised for natural-sounding text and strong coding capabilities. They have an authentic tone that works well for professional communication.
For Complex Reasoning
Enable Thinking on a flagship model when you need maximum accuracy on analytical tasks. This takes longer but significantly reduces errors on complex problems.
For Speed-Sensitive Tasks
Flash, mini, or nano variants deliver good results much faster. Perfect for real-time applications, iterating on ideas, or processing high volumes.
Image Generation Models
Image models also follow naming patterns:
| Provider | Models | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Black Forest Labs | Flux series | State-of-the-art quality, fast generation |
| Imagen series | Diverse art styles, photo realism | |
| OpenAI | DALL-E, GPT Image | Text-to-image, integrated with chat |
Staying Current
AI models evolve rapidly. To stay current:
- Check the model selector - ajan always shows the latest available models
- Look for version numbers - Higher numbers = newer capabilities
- Try new models - When a new version appears, test it on your typical tasks
- Read release notes - Providers announce major improvements with new releases
FAQ
Use stronger models for complex reasoning, long context, coding, analysis, or tasks where quality matters more than speed or cost. Use smaller or faster models for routine writing, summarization, and simpler tasks.
Models come from different providers and deployments. They can differ in context size, output length, supported modalities, speed, availability, cost, and regional deployment. These differences can affect the same prompt's result.
ajan aims to offer new models as soon as they are released by the provider. However, new models may require regional deployment, safety review, pricing setup, and product integration before they appear. Availability can therefore differ from a provider's public launch date.