Treat a model switch as an application change

Replacing an AI model may change behavior for identical inputs. This affects not only wording, but also structured output, clarification questions and tool selection. Model changes therefore belong in the application's controlled change process.

Compare before switching

• Run representative tasks against the old and new configurations.
• Validate structured output against the expected schema.
• Test interruptions, timeouts and unavailable tools.
• Record model versions, settings and observed results.

Include retrieval and preprocessing in the comparison. A changed answer may result from different sources rather than the model alone. Observing these parts separately makes causes easier to identify.

Continue checking relevant business outcomes after the switch. Prepare a response to unexpected degradation, such as returning to the previous configuration or temporarily assigning critical tasks to a person.