Overview
Thinking modes set how much thought Taskade AI puts into an answer. In the model menu they appear as TSK-Auto and four TSK tiers. TSK-Auto chooses for you. A tier sets a fixed depth, from quick edits to complex apps.
TL;DR: Open the model menu in Taskade EVE, an agent, or the Taskade Genesis prompt box. Leave TSK-Auto on, or pick TSK-Instant, TSK-Standard, TSK-Thinking, or TSK-Reasoning. TSK-Auto and TSK-Instant work on every plan. TSK-Standard and TSK-Thinking need a paid plan, and TSK-Reasoning needs Max or Enterprise. See Custom AI Agents.
Before You Start
- What you need: A Taskade account. Any plan can use TSK-Auto and TSK-Instant.
- Time: About one minute.
Compare the Options
| Option | Menu description | Good for | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSK-Auto (default) | Picks the best model for your task | Everyday work when you do not want to choose | Every plan |
| TSK-Instant | Quick edits | Quick edits, short answers, and high-volume chat | Every plan |
| TSK-Standard | Everyday apps | Everyday apps, drafts, summaries, and routine answers | Paid plans |
| TSK-Thinking | Bigger apps, more care | Bigger apps and longer jobs that need more care | Paid plans |
| TSK-Reasoning | Complex apps. Uses more credits | Complex apps, multi-step logic, and hard problems | Max and Enterprise |
Deeper tiers use more credits, and TSK-Reasoning uses the most. Hover a tier in the menu to see its credit cost before you send a message. TSK-Auto shows no fixed cost, because its choice changes with the task.
TSK-Thinking came back to the menu in October 2026 with a new model behind it. A TSK-Thinking pick saved before it left the menu in September 2026 still shows TSK-Auto and runs on TSK-Auto. Pick TSK-Thinking again to use it. A TSK-Reasoning pick saved while TSK-Thinking was out of the menu, from 2026-09-28 to 2026-10-03, now shows as TSK-Thinking.
Pick a Tier
- Open a Taskade EVE chat or the Taskade Genesis prompt box.
- Click the model button in the prompt box. Its tooltip reads AI Model: TSK-Auto until you pick something else.
- Hover a tier to see its credit cost.
- Click TSK-Auto or a TSK tier.
The menu looks like this on a Free workspace. A chip marks each tier that needs a higher plan:
┌─ AI Model: TSK-Auto ───────────────────────────────────┐
│ ● TSK-Auto Recommended │
│ Picks the best model for your task │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ TSK-Instant Quick edits │
│ TSK-Standard Everyday apps Pro │
│ TSK-Thinking Bigger apps, more care Pro │
│ TSK-Reasoning Complex apps. Uses more Max │
│ credits │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Current Model › │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Your pick applies to the messages that you send next. You can switch at any time in the same conversation. To pin one exact model instead of a tier, open Current Model.
If your plan cannot use a tier, a click on that tier opens the upgrade panel. Your current pick stays in place.
You are done when the model button shows the tier that you picked.
Match the Tier to the Job
Not sure which option fits the task in front of you? This decision tree points to one.
TSK-Auto is the right default for most people. It makes the choice for you, so you can focus on the task.
TSK-Instant fits a quick rewrite, a short answer, or a routine lookup. It is the fastest tier and uses the fewest credits.
TSK-Standard fits everyday apps, drafting, summaries, and routine content.
TSK-Thinking fits bigger apps and longer jobs that need more care than TSK-Standard. It uses more credits than TSK-Standard.
TSK-Reasoning fits complex apps and step-by-step work, such as a multi-step workflow, a pricing calculation, or a hard research question. It uses the most credits.
Set a Tier for Agents and Automations
The same options appear wherever you choose a model. The list below the tiers changes with the place.
| Where | How to open the menu | What the menu shows |
|---|---|---|
| Taskade EVE and the Taskade Genesis prompt box | The model button in the prompt box | TSK-Auto, the TSK tiers, and Current Model to pin one model |
| A custom AI agent | The agent's Knowledge tab → AI Model, or Edit agent → General | TSK-Auto, the TSK tiers, and All Models |
| A Taskade AI step in an automation | Model (optional) in the step settings | TSK-Auto and the TSK tiers under a Taskade credits heading |
See Custom AI Agents for agent settings and Taskade AI for automation steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know which model a tier uses?
No. Pick a tier by the job: TSK-Instant for quick edits, TSK-Standard for everyday apps, TSK-Thinking for bigger apps, and TSK-Reasoning for complex apps. If you are not sure, leave TSK-Auto on.
Do deeper tiers cost more credits?
Yes. Each tier uses more credits than the tier above it in the menu, and TSK-Reasoning uses the most. Hover a tier to see its cost before you send a message. See AI Models & Credit Costs.
Which tiers can a Free workspace use?
A Free workspace can use TSK-Auto and TSK-Instant. TSK-Standard and TSK-Thinking need a paid plan. TSK-Reasoning needs Max or Enterprise. A tier that your plan cannot use shows an upgrade chip.
Is TSK-Thinking back?
Yes. TSK-Thinking returned to the model menu in October 2026 with a new model behind it, and every paid plan can pick it. A TSK-Thinking pick saved before it left the menu in September 2026 still runs on TSK-Auto, so pick TSK-Thinking again to use it.
Can an agent keep a fixed tier?
Yes. Open the agent's Knowledge tab, open AI Model, and pick a tier. The agent then answers with that tier until you change it.
Is TSK-Auto safe to leave on?
Yes. TSK-Auto is the recommended default. It makes the choice for you on every plan.
Related guides
- Custom AI Agents: Set the tier that an agent uses
- Taskade EVE: The model menu in the Taskade EVE chat
- AI Models & Credit Costs: How credits work for each tier
- Taskade AI: Pick a tier for an automation step
- TSK-1: The Taskade System Kernel: How TSK-Auto fits into Taskade
- Explore AI agents