Demo: accessible cost-aware model nudge (ask-a-question carousel)

[eli-w-king]

Demo of the accessible, question-based cost-aware model nudge (built in a real Code OSS build). When a prompt is sent on an expensive model (Claude Opus) and you are not in Autopilot, it asks a clarifying question using the same UI as chat's Plan-mode clarifying questions (the question carousel): a "Switch model?" question with single-select options and a Submit button. There is no countdown and no timed action, so nothing happens on your behalf.

Ask a question (question carousel, like Plan mode)

Type a prompt on Claude Opus. A question appears: "Switch model?" with options "1 Switch to Claude Haiku 4.5" and "2 Keep Claude Opus 4.8", plus Submit. Selecting Switch and submitting moves to the cheaper model and sends. Skipping the question snoozes the suggestion for the session.

Watch the MP4: https://github.com/eli-w-king/eli-vscode/blob/cost-aware-nudge-demo-media/demo-media/cost-aware-nudge/presend-question-carousel.mp4

Notes

• Uses the real question carousel UI ({ChatQuestionCarouselPart}), the same component shown for clarifying questions in Plan mode.
• No countdown and no timed action; the choice is always explicit (accessible, satisfies timing-adjustable guidance).
• Never shown during Autopilot.
• GIF is an inline preview, the MP4 link has a player. A native inline player can be added by dragging the MP4 into this issue from a signed in GitHub session.

[eli-w-king]

Quick update on the cost-aware model nudge, based on our user study and follow-up on accessibility. The concept resonates (saving credits is a real, top-of-mind pain), control matters most, and people want the nudge before they send, not after.

1. Retrospective option: users did not like it

The after-the-answer banner ("a cheaper model could have saved credits") was the least preferred of everything we showed. Most found it frustrating and wanted the nudge to be preventative rather than hindsight ("I'd rather it be preventative instead of hindsight... prevent you from making expensive mistakes"). We are dropping or de-emphasizing this one.

Watch the MP4: https://github.com/eli-w-king/eli-vscode/blob/cost-aware-nudge-demo-media/demo-media/cost-aware-nudge/retrospective-banner.mp4

2. Swap variant: users liked it

The before-send "keep your model, with an opt-in Swap to the cheaper model" framing resonated most. It preserves control (people pay for the credits and want the final say) and the wording read clearly ("could handle this for fewer credits"). This is our recommended direction, with an auto-switch mode available as a setting for savings-first users.

Watch the MP4: https://github.com/eli-w-king/eli-vscode/blob/cost-aware-nudge-demo-media/demo-media/cost-aware-nudge/swap-variant.mp4

3. Accessibility: trying the ask-a-question UI

The one open concern with the before-send variants is the countdown, since a timed action that acts on its own is an accessibility risk (timing must be adjustable). To address that, we are trying a version that asks a clarifying question using the same UI as Plan mode's clarifying questions (the question carousel): a "Switch model?" question with single-select options and Submit, and no countdown, so nothing happens on the user's behalf. It reuses the existing question carousel component and is never shown during Autopilot.

Watch the MP4: https://github.com/eli-w-king/eli-vscode/blob/cost-aware-nudge-demo-media/demo-media/cost-aware-nudge/presend-question-carousel.mp4

[eli-w-king]

variant-D-sidebar.mp4

variant-C-sidebar.mp4