AI Response Mode
Choose how the AI talks to you. Simple explanations for beginners, balanced advice for everyday use, or expert-level financial analysis for professionals.
Overview
The AI Response Mode setting lets you control the tone and detail level of all AI-generated content in the app. This affects AI Chat responses, Spending Stories, AI Insights, and Fat Finder reports.
How to Change
- Go to Settings (gear icon)
- Scroll to the App Settings section
- Find AI Response Style
- Tap one of the three options
Available Modes
Simple
Best for people new to personal finance.
- Uses everyday language, avoids financial jargon
- Uses analogies and comparisons (e.g., “think of a budget like a jar of cookies”)
- Short sentences and bullet points
- Rounds amounts to whole numbers
- Encouraging, supportive tone
- Explains financial terms in parentheses when they must be used
Balanced (Default)
Good for most users who want clear, practical advice.
- Mix of plain language with basic financial terms
- Explains concepts when first mentioned
- Uses specific numbers but rounds where appropriate
- Actionable and practical recommendations
Expert
Designed for financially literate users and professionals.
- Uses proper financial terminology (burn rate, cash flow, liquidity, allocation)
- Includes ratios and percentages (savings rate, expense-to-income ratio)
- References benchmarks (50/30/20 rule, recommended emergency fund)
- Data-dense responses: tables, precise numbers, trend comparisons
- Suggests advanced strategies (tax optimization, compound interest projections)
- Professional, analytical tone
AI Model vs. AI Response Mode
These are two separate settings:
| Setting | What It Changes |
|---|---|
| AI Response Mode | How the AI talks to you — tone, vocabulary, detail level |
| AI Model | Which underlying model is used — affects quality, speed, and quota cost |
You can combine them freely: e.g., Expert mode with Fast model, or Simple mode with Quality model.
What It Affects
The response mode changes the AI’s communication style across all AI features:
| Feature | Effect |
|---|---|
| AI Chat | Response tone, vocabulary, and detail level |
| Spending Story | Narrative style and complexity of insights |
| AI Insights | How chart descriptions and suggestions are worded |
| Fat Finder | Finding descriptions and action suggestions |
| Savings Goals | Plan summary and advice language |
Persistence
- Your choice is saved to your profile and synced across devices
- It applies immediately to all new AI-generated content
- Previously generated content (cached stories, insights) is not re-generated — tap Regenerate on those screens to see the new style
FAQ
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Q: Does the response mode affect the accuracy of the analysis? A: No. The underlying financial analysis is identical regardless of mode. Only the communication style changes.
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Q: Can I change it back at any time? A: Yes. Switch between modes freely in Settings. The change takes effect immediately for new AI responses.
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Q: Which mode should I choose? A: If you’re unsure, start with Balanced. Switch to Simple if responses feel too technical, or to Expert if you want more detailed financial analysis.
See also: Settings | AI Chat | Spending Story