Haiku
Best for short, easy tasks where speed matters most.
- Grammar fixes
- Quick email drafts
- Formatting
- Simple summaries
- Basic extraction
Back to the AI Policy
Reference Guide
Which Claude model should I use?
Use the simplest model that gets the job done. This keeps Claude fast, available, and affordable for everyone.
When in doubt, use Sonnet.
If you hit a limit, the app still works
A usage limit message does not mean the company account is shut down for the month. Claude uses time-based usage windows that reset.
If someone hits a temporary limit, they can switch to a lighter model or continue later after the reset.
The organization does not go offline because one person hits a temporary threshold.
Start here
Quick and simple
Sonnet
Best for most daily tasks. This is the company default.
- Internal memos
- First drafts
- Research summaries
- Planning
- Presentation outlines
- Standard coding help
Opus
Use only for difficult or high-stakes work that needs the strongest reasoning.
- Major proposals
- Complex analysis
- Sensitive communications
- Advanced technical work
- Difficult debugging
- Strategic planning
Choose your model
| If your task is... | Use this model | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Quick and simple | Haiku | Grammar cleanup, short emails, simple summaries, formatting |
| Most daily work | Sonnet | Memos, outlines, planning, research summaries, normal writing |
| Complex or high-stakes | Opus | Major proposals, sensitive work, difficult analysis, advanced technical tasks |
Quick and simple
Haiku
- Examples
- Grammar cleanup, short emails, simple summaries, formatting
Most daily work
Sonnet
- Examples
- Memos, outlines, planning, research summaries, normal writing
Complex or high-stakes
Opus
- Examples
- Major proposals, sensitive work, difficult analysis, advanced technical tasks
Always start with the simplest model that fits the task.
Rules for everyone
- 1
Start with Haiku for quick, simple tasks.
- 2
Use Sonnet for most day-to-day work.
- 3
Use Opus only for difficult or high-stakes work.
- 4
Combine related requests into one clear prompt instead of sending many short prompts.
- 5
Check your usage settings if you think you are nearing a limit.
Some roles need more power
Some teams, including Estimating, Capital Projects, and Finance, may need stronger model usage for complex work. That is expected. For those cases, Opus use may be appropriate.
For surrounding work like emails, summaries, and quick lookups, users should move back down to Sonnet or Haiku whenever possible.
If your role requires frequent Opus use, speak with your manager or the AI Champions Committee.
Advanced settings
Most users do not need to change effort settings. The default settings are appropriate for normal work.
| Effort Level | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Standard / Low | Quick work where speed matters |
| Medium | Everyday work that needs more care |
| High | Difficult work where quality matters more than speed |
| Max | Rare, critical work only |
Higher effort settings can increase usage and response time.
Questions? Contact your AI Champions Committee or Scott Walker at scott@upshiftcollective.com.