What is Reasoning?
Reasoning controls how much thinking the AI does before it answers. More reasoning means the AI works through the problem step-by-step, like showing its work in math class.Why It Matters
Some questions are simple: “What’s 2+2?” The AI doesn’t need to think hard about that. Other questions are complex: “Design a database schema for a social media app.” For that, you want the AI to think through all the edge cases and trade-offs. Reasoning lets you control which approach to use.Reasoning Levels
Low: Fast responses, minimal thinking. Good for straightforward questions. Medium: Balanced approach. The AI thinks a bit before answering. Works for most questions. High: Deep thinking. The AI works through the problem methodically. Best for complex problems.When to Use Each Level
Low Reasoning
- Simple facts (“What year did this happen?”)
- Quick definitions
- Basic calculations
- When you just need a fast answer
Medium Reasoning
- Most everyday questions
- Explanations of concepts
- General advice
- Default for most conversations
High Reasoning
- Complex problem-solving
- Debugging tricky code
- Analyzing multiple options
- When accuracy is critical
- Math problems with many steps
- Architecture decisions
How to Control Reasoning
Go to the chat settings and adjust the reasoning level before you start your conversation.What You’ll Notice
With low reasoning:- Faster responses
- More direct answers
- Sometimes less thorough
- Slower (but more thoughtful) responses
- The AI might show you its thinking process
- More comprehensive answers
- Better for complex topics
Thinking Mode
There’s also a Thinking Mode that shows you the AI’s reasoning process as it works through your question. It’s like watching the AI think out loud. This is great for:- Understanding how the AI solved a problem
- Learning problem-solving approaches
- Verifying the logic behind an answer
Plan Availability
Reasoning controls are available on most paid plans:| Plan | Reasoning Controls |
|---|---|
| Free | No |
| Lite | Yes |
| Plus | Yes |
| Pro | Yes |
| Max | Yes |
Start with medium reasoning for most things. Dial it up to high when you hit a tough problem, and turn it down to low when you just need quick facts.