Unexpected Model Selection
Sometimes NorthSignal's Intelligent Router might select a model you didn't anticipate. Here's why that happens and what you can do about it.
Why It Happens
The router makes decisions based on prompt analysis, not on your personal preference. Some common surprises:
"I asked a coding question, but it used GPT instead of Claude"
The router evaluates multiple signals. If your coding question was short and simple (e.g., "What does map() do in JavaScript?"), the router may classify it as a general knowledge question rather than a deep coding task, and send it to GPT for a faster response.
"I sent a long message, but it didn't use Gemini"
The context-length threshold for Gemini routing is quite high. A few paragraphs of text won't trigger it — Gemini is reserved for truly massive inputs (think: entire documents, large codebases, or file attachments).
"It keeps using the same model"
If you've only connected one API key, the router has no choice — it will always use that provider. Add more keys to unlock smarter routing.
How to Override
If you disagree with the router's choice:
- Click the Model Selector dropdown below the input bar.
- Select your preferred model manually (e.g.,
Claude Sonnet 4.5). - The conversation will now use your selected model for all subsequent messages.
To return to automatic routing, select Auto-Route from the dropdown.
Pro Tip: Add All Three Keys
The Intelligent Router performs best when you've connected keys for all three providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google). With only one key, it can't route — it's forced to use whatever is available.
See our API Key Setup Guide to connect additional providers.