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When Chief cannot complete a response, an error card explains what happened and what you can do next. Depending on the cause, you may be able to retry the same prompt, try another model, add credits, shorten the conversation, or ask an organization owner for help.

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Read the error card

The card starts with a title for the type of failure, followed by an explanation and suggested next step. When Chief knows which model failed, it also shows Model: {model}. Some cards include Show technical details. Open it when you need more diagnostic information for Chief Support; select Hide technical details to close it again. This control only appears when the provider returned additional system information. A red card marks a fatal error. A gray card marks a non-fatal error and does not offer retry buttons.

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Choose a retry action

On a fatal error, Chief can show one or both of these actions when it can recover your original prompt:
  • Try Again — submits the same prompt again.
  • Try with {model} or Try with a different model — submits the prompt through another available model.
For an AI-model refusal, Chief may show only the model-switching action when another model is available. If no alternative is available, the card falls back to Try Again. Other fatal errors can show both actions. If a retry finishes on a different model than expected, Chief shows Routed to {actual} — {promised} wasn’t available. beneath the completed response. This means the retry succeeded after Chief rerouted it; you can select a specific model again for a later prompt. If the card has no buttons, follow its guidance or use the broader task recovery steps.

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Match the message to the next step

If Chief cannot classify the failure, the card shows Unable to complete operation with the provider’s message or a general retry suggestion.

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FAQ

When a model declines a request and Chief has another model available, the card offers the model-switching action instead of Try Again. This avoids immediately sending the same request back to the model that declined it.
Retry actions appear only for fatal errors when Chief can recover the original prompt. Follow the message on the card, then use the task recovery guide if you still cannot continue.
Yes, when the disclosure is available. Copy the technical details along with the task link, approximate time of the failure, and the model shown on the card. Send them through Get Help.