Story
When a question needs more than a quick answer, I want to choose how the AI works in words I understand, so I know what I'll get and how long it will take.
Joseph, who runs a small electronics shop in Kampala, choosing solar lamps to stock, on his phone.
- 01 Setting
Joseph wants to stock solar lamps that won't come back broken.
- 02 Trigger
The question needs real tests and prices, not a quick guess. He opens the picker.
- 03 Without it
The picker lists atlas-2-lite, atlas-2 and atlas-2-deep-r. He guesses, gets a quick general answer, and never knows Research was there.
- 04 With it
Each mode says what it does, how long it takes, and how many runs are left today. He picks Research.
- 05 Outcome
5 minutes later he has 3 lamps with sources, marked "Answered with Research".
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | His ask in the composer, with a "Fast" chip beside the + button. | Idle. | 0 s | - |
| 2 | Fast, Thinking and Research, each with 1 line on what it does and how long it takes. Research shows 3 left today. | Idle. | on tap | - |
| 3 | The check moves to Research, and the chip now reads "Research". | Idle. | on tap | “Research selected” |
| 4 | "Researching · reading site 6 of 14 · about 5 min". A quick mode only shows it is writing. | Works in the chosen mode. | seconds to minutes | “Researching” |
| 5 | The answer streams in (arrives word by word). | Writes. | - | - |
| 6 | "Answered with Research · 14 sources" under the answer. | Idle. | when done | “Response complete” |
On each device
- phone
- The mode chip sits in the composer. The picker opens as a sheet from the bottom, 1 row per mode. Rare options go under More.
- tablet
- As on desktop: the picker opens as a menu above the chip.
- desktop
- The picker opens as a menu above the chip, with room for the description and the time on 1 row.
When to use it
- The AI can work in ways that differ a lot in time, cost or output - a quick answer, careful thinking, long research.
- The right choice depends on the task, and people can judge it once they know what each choice does.
- Some modes have limits, like runs per day, that people should see before they pick.
- The product can pick well on its own. Offer Auto as the default, and keep the picker for people who want to change it.
- The difference is only how long or formal the answer is. Use Adjust length and tone instead.
- The ask needs exact values, not a way of working. Use Structured prompt instead.
The parts of the pattern
- AMode chipShows the current mode in the composer, and opens the picker.
- BMode nameA plain word for how it works: "Research". Not a model name (the name of the AI engine underneath).
- CWhat it does and how long1 line in everyday words, with the time: "Reads many websites and cites them · about 5 min".
- DLimit"3 left today", in amber, before the pick - not after the run fails.
- ECurrent modeA check on the mode in use, so it is clear what sending will do.
Do and Avoid
Fast
Quick answers · seconds
Research
Reads many websites and cites them · about 5 min
atlas-2-lite
atlas-2
atlas-2-deep-r
Which solar lamps last longest?
Researching · site 6 of 14 · about 5 min
Which solar lamps last longest?
Working…
Writing and accessibility
- Name modes by how they work: "Fast", "Thinking", "Research". If model names appear, put them in a details line.
- Give each mode 1 line in everyday words, with the time: "Reads many websites and cites them · about 5 min".
- Show limits before the pick: "3 left today".
- Label the answer with the mode that made it: "Answered with Research".
- The chip's name includes the current mode: "Mode: Research".
- The picker is a group of radio options (a set where only 1 can be picked). Each option's description is part of its name, so a screen reader reads them together.
- Announce the change: "Research selected".
- Escape closes the picker and puts focus back on the chip.
Seen in real products
- ChatGPTWeb first · Sep 2025Thinking time can be set to Standard or Extended (Light and Heavy on Pro). It launched on the web, with mobile to follow.TechRadar, 18 Sep 2025 ↗
- PerplexityWeb and mobile · Jun 2025A mode selector offers Search, Research and Labs. It came to web and mobile before the desktop apps.InfoQ, Jun 2025 ↗
- ClaudeWeb · Jan 2026Extended thinking is a toggle in the "Search and tools" menu. Turning it on mid-chat starts a new chat.Claude Help: Extended thinking (14 Jan 2026) ↗
- GeminiGemini app · Nov 2025"Thinking" is an option in the model picker of the Gemini 3 app.9to5Google, 18 Nov 2025 ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
Seen this pattern done better, or a product that changed? Press Suggest next to any heading, or tell us about the whole page.