Databricks doesn't run Genie on a single model. The partner-powered AI features documentation lists the hosting provider feature by feature: Genie Agents Chat mode uses Azure OpenAI service and OpenAI on Databricks, Genie Agents Agent mode uses OpenAI on Databricks and Anthropic on Databricks, Genie One uses OpenAI on Databricks and Anthropic on Databricks, and Genie Code Autocomplete uses a Databricks-hosted model whether the setting is on or off. The answer to "which LLM does Genie use" is therefore "it depends which Genie, and it depends on one workspace setting".
That setting is called partner-powered AI features. It is enabled by default for workspaces without a compliance security profile and disabled by default for workspaces that have one. When it's enabled, the features above are powered by models hosted by a partner provider. When it's disabled, AI assistive features fall back to Databricks-hosted models where those exist for workspaces in the Americas and Europe; for workspaces in other geographies, Databricks-hosted models require cross geography processing.
What turns off when the setting is off #
The fallback isn't uniform. With partner-powered AI features disabled, Genie Agents Chat mode, Genie Agents Agent mode, Genie Code Agent mode and AI/BI dashboard AI-assisted visualizations with companion Genie Agents are listed as not available. Genie Code is still available without its agentic capabilities, using a Databricks-hosted model. Genie One stays reachable and users can still interact with data assets, but chat in Genie One isn't available. Genie Code Autocomplete is the one Genie feature that runs on a Databricks-hosted model in both states.
So a compliance security profile workspace, where the setting is off by default, gets a materially smaller Genie than a standard workspace. Teams evaluating Genie in a regulated environment should check which state their workspace is in before they judge the product, because half the behaviour they read about in the documentation may not be switched on.
The toggle is going away on 1 November 2026 #
Databricks is removing the partner-powered AI features setting. The documentation says that for workspaces where the setting is enabled, the account and workspace toggles are already disabled, and on 1 November 2026 Databricks will fully remove the setting from all workspaces and the API. Each workspace keeps whatever value it has: enabled stays enabled, disabled stays disabled. Until that date, a workspace with the setting disabled can still turn it on, and the Settings API still works either way. After 1 November 2026, changing it means contacting your Databricks account team.
That is the piece worth acting on. The window to flip the switch yourself closes, and the state you are in on that date becomes the state you keep until a support conversation changes it.
Why there is no single answer #
Treating Genie as one model is the mistake. It is a family: Genie Agents, Genie One, Genie Code, Genie App Builder, each with its own provider list, and the provider list changes as Databricks adds hosting arrangements. Anyone writing a model-risk document or a vendor assessment should cite the per-feature table rather than a blog post, and re-read it, because that table is where the facts live. Databricks Genie covers what Genie does with those models once they generate SQL, and Foundation Models and the AI Gateway covers the serving side.
Questions people ask #
What LLM does Databricks Genie use? #
It varies by Genie feature. Databricks documentation lists Genie Agents Chat mode on Azure OpenAI service and OpenAI on Databricks, Genie Agents Agent mode and Genie One on OpenAI on Databricks and Anthropic on Databricks, and Genie Code Autocomplete on a Databricks-hosted model.
Can I stop Genie using partner-hosted models? #
The partner-powered AI features setting controls this, and it is disabled by default for workspaces with a compliance security profile. Databricks is removing the setting on 1 November 2026, after which changing it requires contacting your Databricks account team.
Does Genie still work without partner-powered AI features? #
Partly. Genie Code remains available without its agentic capabilities on a Databricks-hosted model, and Genie Code Autocomplete is unaffected, but Genie Agents Chat mode, Genie Agents Agent mode and chat in Genie One are listed as not available.