# Do we need to heat the whole house for this?

By Tommy Magee

Type: Writing
Canonical: https://tommymagee.com/library/thermostat

Choosing an AI model is starting to feel a lot like becoming your dad with the thermostat.

This page is a short summary of Tommy’s public LinkedIn post. Follow the source link for the original.

Choosing a model is starting to feel like adjusting the thermostat. Does this task need the most powerful setting, or is a smaller one enough?

Matching the model to the work can reduce cost and resource use. The goal is to use the capability the task actually needs, with enough attention to quality to know the difference.

I’m interested in keeping quality high without using more capability than the work needs.

Original LinkedIn post: August 2026

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7495932739339046912/

Topics: In practice, Applied AI