Use Fast Models for Quick Checks (Model Routing Economics) (AI Skill)

Overview

Using a heavyweight reasoning model (like OpenAI o1 or Claude 3.5 Sonnet) to fix a spelling mistake, extract a date, or format a Markdown table is like hiring a senior structural engineer to screw in a lightbulb.

Heavy models are 10x to 50x more expensive and have significantly higher latency (5-15 seconds vs. 400ms).

The Model Routing Economics Protocol matches task cognitive difficulty to the optimal model tier, slashing AI API costs and accelerating daily workflow velocity.

The 3-Tier Model Routing Matrix