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Hive can answer with more than one AI model. Most of the time you do not need to choose: the workspace default is set by your admins. When you do want a particular model — a faster one for a quick lookup, a more capable one for a long analysis — pick it from the model picker in the Ask composer.
Hive does not publish a fixed list of models. The picker only offers models your workspace can actually use: those whose provider is configured for your deployment, that your admins allow, and that can serve a chat turn. The list changes as models are added and retired.

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The model picker

Open the picker in the composer (the Hive · default button — Hive · auto when your workspace routes automatically, or Hive · followed by the model’s name once you have chosen one). It shows:
  • Workspace default — uses your workspace and personal settings. The description names the model that will answer.
  • Hive Auto — shown instead when your workspace’s default is automatic routing: “Use automatic routing configured by your workspace.” Hive picks a suitable model for each turn.
  • Or pick a model — the specific models available to you, each shown with its provider’s icon. Open one to see its description and a relative Usage consumption meter; How is this calculated? explains the estimate.
“Workspace and billing rules apply to every turn” — your choice never bypasses spend limits or seat credits.

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Unavailable models

Admins also see models that exist but cannot be used, with the reason: If no model is available at all, Ask still answers with its default.

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What your choice affects

An explicit model choice also governs the internal planning and retrieval steps for that turn, not just the final wording. Each answer records the model that actually produced it. When your seat’s credits run out, a chat turn falls back to the included efficient model rather than failing. See Billing and plans.

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For admins: model settings

Owners and admins manage models under Settings → Workspace → Models.
1

Set the defaults

Choose the Default chat model (or Auto for automatic routing), plus the Fast model and Powerful model Hive uses for lighter and heavier work. Leaving the default chat model on Deployment default leaves the choice to Hive. Choose Save model defaults.
2

Restrict the workspace (optional)

Under Select the models you allow in your workspace, pick the models your people may use and choose Save for workspace. An allowlist holds up to 50 models.
3

Add a custom model (optional)

Where your deployment supports it, Add custom model registers a model by name and ID, and whether it Supports image input.

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How the allowlist behaves

  • An empty allowlist means no restriction: everyone can use every model the deployment offers, and new models appear as they are added.
  • Once you restrict the workspace, new models are never added automatically — you opt each one in. This makes the allowlist a cost, data-residency and vendor-policy control.
  • A model you allowed that later stops being offered is simply ignored; it never widens access.
Vetting AI vendors? Restrict the workspace to the providers you have approved. See AI and models for how Hive handles model traffic.

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Models elsewhere in Hive

  • Workflows — agent, condition, web search and image steps can use Workspace default or a pinned model. See Workflow steps.
  • Agent Studio — each agent has its own model settings, including Hive Auto. See Build an agent.

AI and models

How model requests are routed and what is sent.

Workspace settings

Every admin setting in one place.