The Decoder · 10/10/2026, 22:57:33
Microsoft Launches Decision-1: A Qwen-Based Model for Fast Structured Routing and Agent Control
Microsoft has released Decision-1, a model designed for fast, structured decisions to guide and control AI agents in complex environments via classification, evaluation, and routing. Built on the open-source Qwen3.5-9B, it claims top accuracy across 36 benchmarks with nearly 150,000 questions and is 2.5 times faster than the runner-up. This launch intensifies competition in the emerging 'decision model' sector, joining efforts by OpenAI, Cloudflare, and startups.
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Microsoft now has its own decision model. Like the ones from OpenAI, Cloudflare, and the "original" from Jev, Decision-1 is built for fast, structured decisions. According to Microsoft, it handles classifications, evaluations, and routing decisions and has "the potential" to "guide and control agents through complex environments."
Decision-1 is based on Qwen3.5-9B. Microsoft says it's the most accurate model tested across 36 benchmarks covering nearly 150,000 questions. On speed, it's 2.5 times faster than the runner-up, H2O-Lightning-4B. Cloudflare's open-source Clef models, which are also based on Qwen, weren't included in the comparison.
Microsoft's benchmark comparison puts Decision-1 at the top with 83.5% accuracy and 85 ms latency, ahead of Jev 1.13.0. | Image: Microsoft
Decision-1 is available through Microsoft Foundry and OpenRouter. Input tokens cost $0.042 per million, and output tokens are free. Jev, the startup that kicked off the decision model trend in mid-September, has likely had a rough few weeks. The idea caught on fast, but the tech was quickly adapted and surpassed using open small language models.