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The high‐latitude region of the ionosphere‐thermosphere (IT) system responds to solar wind driving via complex physical processes. The goal of global models of IT coupling is to specify and forecast the effect of magnetospheric energy input, in particular, energy dissipation into Joule heating and increase in kinetic energy of neutral and charged particles. Established paradigms for IT coupling have been challenged by recent investigations into the nature of energy input and the locations where energy is deposited. These results have forced a reexamination of our fundamental assumptions, which are captured in a series of empirical and physics‐based models of energy input. An assessment of these models reveals areas of significant discrepancy between model output and observations. This chapter summarizes the current understanding of magnetospheric energy input, and indicates research areas that remain to be explored.