Choosing the right AI model for your task

19 June 2026

Learning Pathway:

AI Apply 201: Everyday Tasks

Learn the differences between a standard and reasoning AI model, and when to use each of them.

Illustration comparing ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot for workplace tasks, with icons representing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and collaboration tools alongside the text "Which is Best?".

What are Standard and Reasoning models?

chatgpt interface with 'instant' model highlighted

Most people use ChatGPT for writing, summarising, or answering questions. For many of these tasks, a standard model (known as 'Instant' in ChatGPT) is fast and effective.

chatgpt interface with 'thinking' and 'pro' models highlighted

Reasoning models spend more time working through a problem before producing a response. In ChatGPT, you can adjust the level of thinking to "High" and above.

How do I decide which to use?

a decision tree for when to use standard vs reasoning models

Here's a simple way to decide between a standard and reasoning model.

Or you can think of it this way:

Use a Standard Model for:	Use a Reasoning Model for:
Rewriting text	Comparing options
Drafting emails	Making recommendations
Summarising documents	Building plans
Creating meeting notes	Evaluating trade-offs

Here are some examples of everyday scenarios

Comparison of standard vs reasoning model for 'understanding a policy paper'

How much does it cost?

Different reasoning models cost different amount of credits. For ChatGPT you can use the table below as guide:

Model	Use it for:	Credits	Typical Wait
Instant	Everyday tasks: emails, summaries, rewriting	Unlimited	Almost immediate
Medium	Reports, planning, coding, and tougher questions	~10 credits	<1min
High	Complex analysis and multi-step work	~10 credits	1-2min
Extra High	High-accuracy tasks where mistakes are costly	~10 credits	2-5min
Pro	Mission-critical and expert-level problems	~50 credits	>5min

You can check your amount of credits left by going to 'SG WOG ChatGPT' - 'Settings' - 'Usage'

Where to check the number of credits you have left

Now it's your turn to try

Choose one recurring task from your work
Ask yourself: would a standard or reasoning model be more appropriate?
Try both models
Run the same task through both a standard and a reasoning model, and compare the results.

⏭️Next Guide: Generate a morning brief ↩️Return to: AI 201 Learning Pathway