Models and tool approval
Configure which models appear in chat, how tools run, which model generates chat titles, and model intelligence settings.
Open Settings → Models.
Pin models
Pinned models are the models shown in the chat model picker. Pin the models you use most often across providers.
Browse the full model catalog in the Models tab to find ids for newer releases. Use search to filter by label, provider, or model id. In list view, drag pinned models to reorder them; the chat picker uses the same order.
If no models are pinned, Orion uses the catalog defaults for providers that are visible and configured. During ChatGPT onboarding, Orion may pin default ChatGPT models for you if your pinned list is empty.
The chat picker only lists pinned models. If the picker says no models are pinned, open Settings → Models from the picker and add one.
Model intelligence
For OpenAI and Anthropic models, the chat input can show an Intelligence button next to the model picker. Use it to choose how much reasoning effort the selected model should use for the current browser tab.
- OpenAI models support Low, Medium, High, and, for larger models, Extra High.
- Anthropic models support Low, Medium, High, Extra High, and Max.
Higher intelligence levels can improve harder answers, but may take longer and use more tokens. The setting is saved per selected model in the current browser tab, not as a global Settings value.
Tool approval
Tool approval controls whether Agent mode asks before each tool call:
- Always ask — approve or deny run cell, edit file, terminal, and similar actions individually
- Auto-run — execute tools without per-call prompts
See Tool approval and compaction.
Title generation model
Orion generates short titles for new conversations using a separate title generation model. Pick a fast, inexpensive model here so chat titles stay cheap and responsive.
This is independent of the model you select for messages in the chat input.
Unavailable models
If a model is grayed out, locked, or missing:
- Confirm the provider is configured under Settings → Providers
- For local models, confirm the server is running and the model id is correct
- Pin the model in Settings → Models
- Pick a pinned model in the chat input
Workspace overrides
Project teams can override chat settings (including pins and title model) in <workspace>/.orion/settings.json. See Workspace settings.
Related
Last updated July 2026.