Model Compass

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---
name: compare-model-tradeoffs
description: Compare Codex model, reasoning-effort, and Standard/Fast combinations using the live Codex catalog, official OpenAI pricing and evaluations, and optional matched local measurements. Use when a user asks which Codex model or effort to choose, what a setting gains or loses, whether Fast mode is worth it, which combinations are supported, asks to turn Model Compass on or off, requests its companion view, asks for an evidence-backed interactive comparison, or requests a controlled model duel on their own task.
---

# Compare Model Tradeoffs

Produce a decision receipt that separates what OpenAI establishes, what the
user's own runs establish, what is derived, and what remains unknown.

## Display state

Model Compass is quiet by default. Maintain a conversational preference named
`model_compass_visual` for the current thread:

- Default `model_compass_visual` to `off` in every new or forked thread.
- `Show Model Compass`, `Visualize this comparison`, and clear equivalents are
  one-shot requests. Render once without changing the preference.
- `Enable Model Compass for this thread`, `Turn Model Compass on`, and clear
  equivalents set the preference to `on`. Acknowledge the change; render
  immediately only when the same turn also asks for a comparison.
- `Disable Model Compass for this thread`, `Turn Model Compass off`, and clear
  equivalents set it to `off`. The latest explicit instruction wins.
- Treat a bare `turn off` as Model Compass only when no competing target is
  active in the conversation. Otherwise ask one short clarification.
- When resuming the same thread, recover the latest explicit preference from
  its history. If history does not establish a value, use `off`.
- When writing a handoff or compaction summary, preserve exactly one state
  line: `Model Compass visual: on` or `Model Compass visual: off`.

This preference is transcript-backed rather than durable host state. Never
claim stronger persistence than the available thread history establishes.

When the preference is `off`, provide an ordinary model-choice answer as a
concise text decision receipt without an inline visualization. End with one
unobtrusive sentence offering `Show Model Compass` when a visual would help.
When it is `on`, render only on relevant model, effort, speed, cost, or latency
decision turns. A one-turn `text only` request does not change the preference.
Disabling affects future responses; do not claim to remove visuals already in
the transcript.

`Open Model Compass companion view` is a one-shot request. Render the
narrow-friendly delta racetrack, then explain once that the desktop app can pop
out the active chat and optionally keep it on top. Do not change
`model_compass_visual` unless the user also explicitly enables it.

Do not persist the display preference to files or other threads. Do not
automatically open, move, resize, pin, or keep a window on top. Do not render a
visual on unrelated turns merely because the preference is on.

Pets are a separate user-controlled ChatGPT desktop feature. A plugin cannot
detect that the app was minimized, wake or tuck away a pet, replace the pet
activity tray, or put this visualization inside the pet overlay. If the user
asks for pet integration, explain that an awake pet can show cross-chat status
and return them to ChatGPT, but `/pet`, **Wake Pet**, and **Tuck Away Pet** stay
under user control.

## Workflow

1. Read `references/evidence-policy.md` and
   `references/companion-mode.md`.
2. Infer the task shape, billing surface, current choice, and hard constraints
   from the conversation. Use GPT-5.6 Sol + medium + Standard as the documented
   Power baseline when the user gives no baseline.
3. Discover valid choices from the live Codex catalog:

   ```bash
   node scripts/get-codex-catalog.mjs
   ```

   The helper starts the local Codex app server and calls only its read-only
   `model/list` method. It does not read credentials or Codex files dire

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