The AI tab in a Bloom’s configuration controls which underlying model answers student messages. You have two options: Smart Selection, which automatically uses the latest, best-performing models we have evaluated, and Manual Selection, which pins your Bloom to a specific provider and model. Smart Selection is the right choice for almost every Bloom. Manual Selection exists for advanced users with a specific reason to deviate, like a research project, a regulatory constraint, or a subject where you have tested and prefer one model’s style.
Who can change this
Manual Selection depends on your plan and role:
- Plan: your Teaching Space must be on the Growth or Enterprise plan. On Free and Educator Plus, Manual Selection is disabled for everyone and you will see this banner:
- Role: on a qualifying plan, the controls are still read-only for students and educators. You need to be a Bloom Manager or Space Owner. Otherwise you will see this banner:
If you need to switch a model and do not have access, either upgrade the plan (Space Owners only) or ask a Space Owner or Bloom manager to make the change for you.
Step 1: Open the AI tab
From Manage Blooms, click into the Bloom you want to configure. In the configuration tab strip, click the AI tab. You will see two large cards stacked vertically: Smart Selection on top, marked with a green Recommended pill, and Manual Selection below.
Step 2: Use Smart Selection (recommended)
Smart Selection is the default for new Blooms. When it is active, Bloom routes chat messages through the strongest model we have validated for general teaching tasks. The card names the models currently in rotation, in a line that begins:
The benefits listed on the card:
- Auto-updated to newest models: when we promote a new frontier model, every Bloom on Smart Selection moves with us. You do not need to revisit this page.
- Optimized for safety and performance: the recommended models are selected for educational conversations.
Leave Smart Selection on if you do not need to choose a particular model.
Step 3: Switch to Manual Selection
Click the Manual Selection card to expand it. Two dropdowns appear: AI Provider and AI Model. Once you switch off Smart Selection, your Bloom will not change models until you come back here and update them.
AI Provider and AI Model
Choose a provider first, then a model from its list. The available providers include Microsoft Azure, OpenAI, and Google. Changing the provider also changes the models you can choose.
Model availability can change. Use the options shown in your Bloom, and check with your institution before choosing a provider if it has specific requirements.
Step 4: Choosing a model
Start with Smart Selection. If you want to compare a manual model, try it with a few typical course questions before sharing the Bloom with students. Check the accuracy, clarity, use of course materials, and time taken to respond.
Click Save at the bottom of the configuration page once you are happy. The change applies to the next message. A reply that is already being generated finishes with the previous settings.
Common issues
The whole tab is locked with a Lock icon
Either your Teaching Space is on Free or Educator Plus (Manual Selection requires Growth or Enterprise), or your role does not allow editing AI settings. Read the banner above the cards to see which one applies. To unlock it, upgrade the plan or ask a Bloom Manager or Space Owner to make the change.
The Save button does nothing or shows a validation error
If you toggled to Manual Selection but never picked a provider or model, the form will fail validation. Either pick a provider and model, or switch back to Smart Selection.
Manual Selection picked, but answers feel different to what I tested
Check whether Deep Think is on, since it can use a different model for that reply. Also check your teaching settings and course materials. AI responses can vary even when you ask the same question, so compare several examples.
I want a model that is not in the dropdown
Choose one of the models currently listed, or leave Smart Selection on. If you need another model, send a request through Send Feedback and explain what you want to use it for.
What’s next
- Understand how the per-message reasoning model works → How Deep Think works
- See the full configuration tour → Configuration overview
- Open Bloom and tune a model now → Manage Blooms