pi-ask-smarter-model

pi extension: ask_smarter_model tool — any agent can consult a stronger model (default Claude Fable 5, max thinking) on hard problems

Packages

Package details

extension

Install pi-ask-smarter-model from npm and Pi will load the resources declared by the package manifest.

npm repo home report

$ pi install npm:pi-ask-smarter-model

Package: pi-ask-smarter-model
Version: 1.0.1
Published: Jul 10, 2026
Downloads: 269/mo · 269/wk
Author: krystofee
License: ISC
Types: extension
Size: 1.6 MB
Dependencies: 0 dependencies · 2 peers

Pi manifest JSON

{
  "extensions": [
    "./index.ts"
  ],
  "image": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Krystofee/pi-ask-smarter-model/master/tool-call.png"
}

Security note

Pi packages can execute code and influence agent behavior. Review the source before installing third-party packages.

README

pi-ask-smarter-model

A pi extension that gives any agent an escape hatch: an ask_smarter_model tool to consult a stronger model on problems it can't crack alone. Default target is Claude Fable 5 with maximum thinking (xhigh).

Run a cheap, fast model for everyday work — and let it phone the smartest model only when it's actually stuck.

Demo

Install

pi install npm:pi-ask-smarter-model

Or try it without installing:

pi -e npm:pi-ask-smarter-model

Usage

Nothing to configure. The agent calls the tool on its own when it hits hard reasoning, tricky debugging, or design decisions it's unsure about — or when you ask explicitly:

ask the smarter model why this deadlocks

The stronger model does not see your conversation. It gets only the prompt the agent writes, so the agent is instructed to include all relevant context, code, and constraints inline. This keeps the call cheap and self-contained.

Tool call

Press ctrl+o on the tool call to expand the full prompt and full response.

Tool parameters

Param	Required	Description
`prompt`	yes	The question/task. The model sees only this — all context must be inline.
`model`	no	Override as `provider/id` (e.g. `anthropic/claude-opus-4-8`) or bare id.

Model resolution

Without an override, the tool defaults to Claude Fable 5 from pi's model registry. Any model works as long as it's in pi's model registry. The call always uses reasoning: "xhigh".

Why not a subagent?

A subagent explores on its own — reads files, runs commands, burns tokens. ask_smarter_model is a single one-shot completion: one focused question in, one deeply-reasoned answer out. It's the right shape for "I need a second opinion from someone smarter", not "go do this for me".

Requirements

pi with @earendil-works/pi-ai and @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent >= 0.77

License

ISC