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Model selector

Written by , Principal Architect, Networks and Tech, AskVault · Reviewed by Allison Chan
Last updated: · 3 min read

Default model per plan

Auto-assigned:

  • Free. Lightweight model (Gemini Flash). Fast, capable, no credit-cost tiers to manage.
  • Starter, Growth, Business, Enterprise. No plan-locked default — pick any model from the catalog (see below). Premium models cost more message credits per answer than lightweight ones.

Choosing a model (any paid plan)

For Starter workspaces and above:

  1. Settings > Model Selector.
  2. Pick from available list. Each model shows its message-credit cost per answer before you confirm.
  3. Save.

Change applies within 30 seconds to new conversations.

Bring your own model (Enterprise)

For Enterprise customers:

  • Self-hosted open-source models. Llama, Mistral, etc.
  • Private cloud deployments (your AWS/GCP).
  • Custom fine-tuned models.

Configure via Enterprise onboarding.

Comparing models

Use Compare Models in Chat Playground:

  • Run same query against 2 to 3 models.
  • See quality, latency, cost differences.
  • Pick based on your priority.

Cost vs quality trade-offs

Roughly, in ascending order of message-credit cost per answer:

  • Lightweight (Free tier default). Fastest, lowest cost. Good for simple FAQs.
  • Mid-tier. Better at multi-step reasoning. Costs more credits per answer than lightweight.
  • High-capability. Best for complex queries, long context. Highest credit cost per answer.

Any paid plan can pick from the full range — the trade-off is credits per answer, not which plan you're on. For high-volume bots: prefer mid-tier unless quality requires higher.

Per-skill model override

Some skills can use different models:

  • subscription_manager can pin a deterministic model for billing accuracy.
  • content_recommender can use a faster model for low-stakes suggestions.

Configure under each skill's Advanced > Model.

Model versioning

When AskVault rolls out a new version:

  • Default model auto-updates to latest unless pinned.
  • Pin specific version on Business and above for stability.
  • Notification 30 days before retiring old versions.

Limits

  • Available models. Fixed lightweight model on Free; full catalog on Starter and above (cost gated by message credits, not plan tier).
  • Override granularity. Workspace or per-skill.
  • Model change rate. Up to 10 per day (anti-thrashing).

Common pitfalls

Switched to a lower model, quality dropped. Revert in 30 seconds; or fine-tune the system prompt for the lower model.

Latency jumped after model switch. Higher-capability models often slower. Trade-off.

Cost spike. Higher-tier model means more tokens per query. Audit usage post-switch.

FAQ

Can I see which model is currently active?

Yes under Settings > Model Selector > Status.

Will switching models lose conversation context?

No. Past messages preserve; the next turn uses the new model.

Does switching affect cost immediately?

Yes. Next query bills at new model rate.

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