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
On Web
Look for the reasoning controls in your chat interface. You can usually find them in the settings or options menu.On Mobile
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 (Web)
On web, 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.