Ask HN: What are some of the use-cases of the frontier models's max mode?

A Hacker News user asks the community about real-world use cases for the 'max mode' or 'Ultra mode' settings on frontier AI models like ChatGPT and Claude Fable, noting that in their software development work they have never needed such high-capability settings and wondering which industries (e.g., finance, life sciences) regularly use them.

Recently ChatGPT released an Ultra mode, it's "highest-capability setting, coordinating multiple agents across parallel workstreams to finish complex tasks faster" on their latest flagship product Sol of GPT-5.6. Similarly, Claude Fable also has an Ultra setting. I wonder what are primary workflows or use-cases this maximised modes are used for currently? In my average software development experience, I never had a need to go beyond the max mode or beyond Opus for example. Even in specific workflows, the model's capability rarely mattered as compared to the harnesses or the context. Are there any specific industries finance, lifescience, etc. that uses these max modes regularly or for specific workflows? Curious to know if anyone's making use of these and would like to share how you're using it. Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48871595 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48871595 Points: 1 Comments: 0