diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/mentor/page.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/mentor/page.tsx
index ddd3180..78f6690 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/mentor/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/mentor/page.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useQuery, useMutation } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { AppShell } from "@/components/layout/app-shell";
 import { MentorChatMessages } from "@/components/features/mentor-chat-messages";
 import { createChatSession, fetchChatSessions, useMentorChat } from "@/hooks/useMentorChat";
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { MEMORY_CATEGORIES, type MemoryCategory } from "@adventureos/shared";
 
 const SUGGESTED = [
   "What should I focus on today?",
@@ -16,7 +17,17 @@ const SUGGESTED = [
   "What goals am I working towards?",
 ];
 
+type MemorySuggestion = {
+  id: string;
+  category: string;
+  title: string;
+  content: string;
+  sourceType: string;
+  confidence: string;
+};
+
 export default function MentorPage() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const [sessionId, setSessionId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [tab, setTab] = useState<"chat" | "knows" | "preview">("chat");
   const [previewInput, setPreviewInput] = useState("");
@@ -28,27 +39,46 @@ export default function MentorPage() {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!sessionId && sessionsData?.sessions?.[0]) {
-      setSessionId(sessionsData.sessions[0].id);
+      queueMicrotask(() => setSessionId(sessionsData.sessions[0].id));
     } else if (!sessionId) {
       createChatSession().then((d) => setSessionId(d.id));
     }
   }, [sessionId, sessionsData]);
 
   const chat = useMentorChat(sessionId);
+  const { archiveSuccess, resetArchiveSuccess } = chat;
+
+  const { data: suggestionsData } = useQuery<{ suggestions: MemorySuggestion[] }>({
+    queryKey: ["ai-memory-suggestions"],
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      const res = await fetch("/api/ai/memory/suggestions");
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error("Failed to load memory suggestions");
+      return res.json();
+    },
+    enabled: tab === "chat",
+  });
+
+  const pendingSuggestions = suggestionsData?.suggestions ?? [];
+
+  const refreshMemory = () => {
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["ai-memory-suggestions"] });
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["ai-knows"] });
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["context-preview"] });
+  };
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!chat.archiveSuccess || !sessionId) return;
-    chat.resetArchiveSuccess();
+    if (!archiveSuccess || !sessionId) return;
+    resetArchiveSuccess();
 
     const remaining = (sessionsData?.sessions ?? []).filter(
       (s: { id: string }) => s.id !== sessionId
     );
     if (remaining.length > 0) {
-      setSessionId(remaining[0].id);
+      queueMicrotask(() => setSessionId(remaining[0].id));
     } else {
       createChatSession().then((d) => setSessionId(d.id));
     }
-  }, [chat.archiveSuccess, sessionId, sessionsData, chat.resetArchiveSuccess]);
+  }, [archiveSuccess, sessionId, sessionsData, resetArchiveSuccess]);
 
   const { data: knowsData } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["ai-knows"],
@@ -139,6 +169,25 @@ export default function MentorPage() {
                   bottomRef={chat.bottomRef}
                 />
               </div>
+              {pendingSuggestions.length > 0 && (
+                <div className="border-t px-3 py-2 space-y-2 bg-[var(--xp-blue)]/5">
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+                    <p className="text-xs font-bold">
+                      {pendingSuggestions.length} memory suggestion{pendingSuggestions.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}
+                    </p>
+                    <Link href="/settings?section=ai-memory" className="text-[10px] underline text-[var(--warm-grey)]">
+                      Review all
+                    </Link>
+                  </div>
+                  {pendingSuggestions.slice(0, 2).map((suggestion) => (
+                    <ChatMemorySuggestionCard
+                      key={suggestion.id}
+                      suggestion={suggestion}
+                      onChange={refreshMemory}
+                    />
+                  ))}
+                </div>
+              )}
               <div className="p-2 flex flex-wrap gap-1 border-t">
                 {SUGGESTED.map((q) => (
                   <button
@@ -221,3 +270,92 @@ export default function MentorPage() {
     </AppShell>
   );
 }
+
+function ChatMemorySuggestionCard({
+  suggestion,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  suggestion: MemorySuggestion;
+  onChange: () => void;
+}) {
+  const [editing, setEditing] = useState(false);
+  const [title, setTitle] = useState(suggestion.title);
+  const [content, setContent] = useState(suggestion.content);
+  const [category, setCategory] = useState(suggestion.category);
+  const [pending, setPending] = useState(false);
+
+  const accept = async () => {
+    setPending(true);
+    await fetch(`/api/ai/memory/suggestions/${suggestion.id}/accept`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+      body: JSON.stringify(editing ? { title, content, category } : {}),
+    });
+    setPending(false);
+    onChange();
+  };
+
+  const reject = async () => {
+    setPending(true);
+    await fetch(`/api/ai/memory/suggestions/${suggestion.id}/reject`, { method: "POST" });
+    setPending(false);
+    onChange();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="retro-window p-2 text-xs border-l-4 border-[var(--xp-blue)]">
+      {editing ? (
+        <div className="space-y-2">
+          <input
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1"
+            value={title}
+            onChange={(e) => setTitle(e.target.value)}
+          />
+          <select
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1"
+            value={category}
+            onChange={(e) => setCategory(e.target.value)}
+          >
+            {Object.entries(MEMORY_CATEGORIES).map(([key, label]) => (
+              <option key={key} value={key}>{label}</option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+          <textarea
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1 min-h-16"
+            value={content}
+            onChange={(e) => setContent(e.target.value)}
+          />
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <>
+          <p className="font-bold">{suggestion.title}</p>
+          <p className="mt-1">{suggestion.content}</p>
+          <p className="text-[10px] text-[var(--warm-grey)] mt-1">
+            {MEMORY_CATEGORIES[suggestion.category as MemoryCategory] ?? suggestion.category} · Source: AI chat
+          </p>
+        </>
+      )}
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 mt-2">
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="retro-btn retro-btn-primary text-[10px]"
+          onClick={accept}
+          disabled={pending || !title.trim() || !content.trim()}
+        >
+          Accept
+        </button>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="retro-btn text-[10px]"
+          onClick={() => setEditing((value) => !value)}
+          disabled={pending}
+        >
+          {editing ? "Cancel edit" : "Edit"}
+        </button>
+        <button type="button" className="retro-btn text-[10px]" onClick={reject} disabled={pending}>
+          Reject
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/settings/ai-memory-panel.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/settings/ai-memory-panel.tsx
index 3dc79a4..b91fd2c 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/settings/ai-memory-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/settings/ai-memory-panel.tsx
@@ -321,24 +321,67 @@ function MemoryRow({ memory, onChange }: { memory: Memory; onChange: () => void
 }
 
 function SuggestionRow({ suggestion, onChange }: { suggestion: Suggestion; onChange: () => void }) {
+  const [editing, setEditing] = useState(false);
+  const [title, setTitle] = useState(suggestion.title);
+  const [content, setContent] = useState(suggestion.content);
+  const [category, setCategory] = useState(suggestion.category);
+
   return (
     <div className="retro-window p-2 text-sm border-l-4 border-[var(--xp-blue)]">
-      <p className="font-bold">{suggestion.title}</p>
-      <p className="text-xs mt-1">{suggestion.content}</p>
-      <p className="text-[10px] text-[var(--warm-grey)]">
-        {MEMORY_CATEGORIES[suggestion.category as MemoryCategory]} · confidence {suggestion.confidence}
-      </p>
+      {editing ? (
+        <div className="space-y-2">
+          <input
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1 text-xs"
+            value={title}
+            onChange={(e) => setTitle(e.target.value)}
+          />
+          <select
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1 text-xs"
+            value={category}
+            onChange={(e) => setCategory(e.target.value)}
+          >
+            {Object.entries(MEMORY_CATEGORIES).map(([key, label]) => (
+              <option key={key} value={key}>{label}</option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+          <textarea
+            className="retro-window-inset w-full p-1 text-xs min-h-20"
+            value={content}
+            onChange={(e) => setContent(e.target.value)}
+          />
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <>
+          <p className="font-bold">{suggestion.title}</p>
+          <p className="text-xs mt-1">{suggestion.content}</p>
+          <p className="text-[10px] text-[var(--warm-grey)]">
+            {MEMORY_CATEGORIES[suggestion.category as MemoryCategory]} · confidence {suggestion.confidence}
+          </p>
+        </>
+      )}
       <div className="flex gap-2 mt-2">
         <button
           type="button"
           className="retro-btn retro-btn-primary text-xs"
           onClick={async () => {
-            await fetch(`/api/ai/memory/suggestions/${suggestion.id}/accept`, { method: "POST" });
+            await fetch(`/api/ai/memory/suggestions/${suggestion.id}/accept`, {
+              method: "POST",
+              headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+              body: JSON.stringify(editing ? { title, content, category } : {}),
+            });
             onChange();
           }}
+          disabled={!title.trim() || !content.trim()}
         >
           Accept
         </button>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="retro-btn text-xs"
+          onClick={() => setEditing((value) => !value)}
+        >
+          {editing ? "Cancel edit" : "Edit"}
+        </button>
         <button
           type="button"
           className="retro-btn text-xs"
diff --git a/apps/web/src/hooks/useMentorChat.ts b/apps/web/src/hooks/useMentorChat.ts
index e0d71eb..b226c92 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/hooks/useMentorChat.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/hooks/useMentorChat.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ type ChatSessionData = {
   messages: MentorChatMessage[];
 };
 
+type SendChatResponse = {
+  memorySuggestions?: unknown[];
+};
+
 export function useMentorChat(sessionId: string | null) {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const bottomRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
@@ -54,7 +58,7 @@ export function useMentorChat(sessionId: string | null) {
         const body = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
         throw new Error(body.error ?? "Send failed");
       }
-      return res.json();
+      return res.json() as Promise<SendChatResponse>;
     },
     onMutate: (content) => {
       setInput("");
@@ -64,6 +68,8 @@ export function useMentorChat(sessionId: string | null) {
       setPendingState(null);
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["chat-session", sessionId] });
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["chat-sessions"] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["ai-memory-suggestions"] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["ai-knows"] });
     },
     onError: (_err, content) => {
       setPendingState(createPendingStateOnError(content));
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-chat.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-chat.ts
index 12307f9..a509901 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-chat.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-chat.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from "./library-context";
 import { listMemories, getProfileSummary } from "./ai-memory";
 import { MEMORY_CATEGORIES, type MemoryCategory } from "@adventureos/shared";
+import { extractMemoryCandidates } from "./memory-extraction";
 
 export async function listChatSessions(userId: string) {
   return db
@@ -57,11 +58,14 @@ export async function sendChatMessage(userId: string, sessionId: string, content
 
   const { session, messages } = sessionData;
 
-  await db.insert(aiChatMessages).values({
-    sessionId,
-    role: "user",
-    content: content.trim(),
-  });
+  const [userMsg] = await db
+    .insert(aiChatMessages)
+    .values({
+      sessionId,
+      role: "user",
+      content: content.trim(),
+    })
+    .returning();
 
   const availability = await getAiAvailability(userId);
   const ctx = await buildMentorContext(userId, {
@@ -83,7 +87,7 @@ export async function sendChatMessage(userId: string, sessionId: string, content
 
   let reply: string;
   let offline = false;
-  let memoryIdsUsed = ctx.memoryIds;
+  const memoryIdsUsed = ctx.memoryIds;
 
   if (!availability.canUse || !availability.online) {
     offline = true;
@@ -116,12 +120,17 @@ export async function sendChatMessage(userId: string, sessionId: string, content
     })
     .returning();
 
+  const memorySuggestions = await extractMemoryCandidates(userId, "chat", content, {
+    type: "ai_chat",
+    id: userMsg.id,
+  });
+
   await db
     .update(aiChatSessions)
     .set({ updatedAt: new Date(), title: session.title === "New conversation" ? truncateTitle(content) : session.title })
     .where(eq(aiChatSessions.id, sessionId));
 
-  return { message: assistantMsg, reply, memoryIdsUsed, offline };
+  return { message: assistantMsg, reply, memoryIdsUsed, offline, memorySuggestions };
 }
 
 function truncateTitle(text: string): string {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-memory.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-memory.ts
index d1f119c..ffeb195 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-memory.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai-memory.ts
@@ -243,20 +243,41 @@ export async function createSuggestion(
     confidence?: number;
   }
 ) {
+  if (!(input.category in MEMORY_CATEGORIES)) {
+    throw new Error("Invalid memory category");
+  }
+
   const settings = await getMemoryLearningSettings(userId);
   if (!settings.learningEnabled) return null;
 
   const pending = await listSuggestions(userId, "pending");
   if (pending.length >= settings.maxPendingSuggestions) return null;
 
+  if (pending.some((s) => isSimilarMemoryText(input, s))) return null;
+
+  const exactTitle = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(aiMemories)
+    .where(
+      and(
+        eq(aiMemories.userId, userId),
+        eq(aiMemories.category, input.category),
+        isNull(aiMemories.archivedAt),
+        ilike(aiMemories.title, input.title)
+      )
+    )
+    .limit(1);
+  if (exactTitle.length > 0) return null;
+
   const dup = await db
     .select()
     .from(aiMemories)
     .where(
       and(
         eq(aiMemories.userId, userId),
+        eq(aiMemories.category, input.category),
         isNull(aiMemories.archivedAt),
-        ilike(aiMemories.content, `%${input.content.slice(0, 40)}%`)
+        ilike(aiMemories.content, `%${keyPhrase(input.content)}%`)
       )
     )
     .limit(1);
@@ -278,6 +299,40 @@ export async function createSuggestion(
   return row;
 }
 
+function isSimilarMemoryText(
+  input: { category: MemoryCategory; title: string; content: string },
+  existing: { category: string; title: string; content: string }
+) {
+  if (input.category !== existing.category) return false;
+  const inputTitle = normalizeMemoryText(input.title);
+  const existingTitle = normalizeMemoryText(existing.title);
+  const inputContent = normalizeMemoryText(input.content);
+  const existingContent = normalizeMemoryText(existing.content);
+
+  return (
+    inputTitle === existingTitle ||
+    inputContent === existingContent ||
+    inputContent.includes(existingTitle) ||
+    existingContent.includes(inputTitle) ||
+    inputContent.includes(keyPhrase(existing.content)) ||
+    existingContent.includes(keyPhrase(input.content))
+  );
+}
+
+function normalizeMemoryText(value: string) {
+  return value
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .replace(/\b7\s*a\.?\s*m\.?\b/g, "7am")
+    .replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, " ")
+    .replace(/\b(the|a|an|user|users|the user|to|is|are|be)\b/g, " ")
+    .replace(/\s+/g, " ")
+    .trim();
+}
+
+function keyPhrase(value: string) {
+  return normalizeMemoryText(value).split(" ").filter(Boolean).slice(0, 8).join(" ");
+}
+
 export async function markMemoriesUsed(userId: string, memoryIds: string[]) {
   if (memoryIds.length === 0) return;
   await db
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai.ts
index f680587..3e0eb16 100755
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/services/ai.ts
@@ -524,6 +524,7 @@ export async function generateChatReply(
     const prompt = [
       input.history ? `Recent conversation:\n${input.history}\n` : "",
       `User: ${input.userMessage}`,
+      "If the user asks whether you can learn about them, explain that AdventureOS can suggest memories from goals, preferences, routines, worries, and direct remember requests; the user can review, edit, accept, reject, or ignore suggestions before they become saved memory.",
       "Respond as the mentor in plain text (no JSON). Keep it concise for a local model.",
     ]
       .filter(Boolean)
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.test.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fa2b07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import {
+  extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates,
+  extractMemoryCandidates,
+} from "./memory-extraction";
+
+const createSuggestion = vi.fn();
+let learningEnabled = true;
+
+vi.mock("./ai-memory", () => ({
+  createSuggestion: (...args: unknown[]) => createSuggestion(...args),
+  getMemoryLearningSettings: vi.fn(async () => ({
+    learningEnabled,
+    autoSuggestEnabled: true,
+    requireApproval: true,
+    allowedCategories: [
+      "current_goals",
+      "likes",
+      "dislikes",
+      "learning_interests",
+      "exercise_preferences",
+      "ai_tone",
+      "worries",
+    ],
+    suggestAfterReflection: true,
+    suggestAfterChat: true,
+    maxPendingSuggestions: 10,
+    minDaysBetweenNudges: 3,
+    allowSensitiveCategories: false,
+  })),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./ai-config", () => ({
+  getAiBehaviorConfig: vi.fn(async () => ({ enabled: true })),
+  getAiProviderConfig: vi.fn(async () => ({ enabled: true, model: "llama3.1:8b", timeoutMs: 1 })),
+  generateTextWithFallback: vi.fn(async () => {
+    throw new Error("AI extractor failed");
+  }),
+  buildSystemPrompt: vi.fn(() => "system"),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./ai-templates", () => ({
+  getTemplateBody: vi.fn(async () => "core"),
+}));
+
+describe("extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates", () => {
+  it("extracts the wake-up goal regression case", () => {
+    const [candidate] = extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates(
+      "One of my goals for the next coming weeks is to wake up at 7 am every morning"
+    );
+
+    expect(candidate).toMatchObject({
+      category: "current_goals",
+      title: "Wake Up at 7am Every Morning",
+      confidence: 0.9,
+    });
+    expect(candidate.content).toContain("goals for the next few weeks");
+    expect(candidate.content).toContain("wake up at 7 am every morning");
+  });
+
+  it("extracts learning preferences from likes", () => {
+    const [candidate] = extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("I like learning with examples");
+
+    expect(candidate).toMatchObject({
+      category: "learning_interests",
+      title: "Learning with Examples",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("extracts dislikes", () => {
+    const [candidate] = extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("I dislike too many tasks at once");
+
+    expect(candidate).toMatchObject({
+      category: "dislikes",
+      title: "Too Many Tasks at Once",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("extracts ordinary worries as pending memory candidates", () => {
+    const [candidate] = extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("I get worried when I fall behind");
+
+    expect(candidate).toMatchObject({
+      category: "worries",
+      title: "Fall Behind",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not extract vague chatter", () => {
+    expect(extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("hello")).toEqual([]);
+    expect(extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("   ")).toEqual([]);
+    expect(extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates("tell me about DNS")).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("extractMemoryCandidates", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    learningEnabled = true;
+    createSuggestion.mockReset();
+    createSuggestion.mockImplementation(async (_userId, input) => ({
+      id: "suggestion-1",
+      ...input,
+      status: "pending",
+    }));
+  });
+
+  it("creates deterministic suggestions even when AI extraction fails", async () => {
+    const suggestions = await extractMemoryCandidates(
+      "user-1",
+      "chat",
+      "One of my goals for the next coming weeks is to wake up at 7 am every morning",
+      { type: "ai_chat", id: "message-1" }
+    );
+
+    expect(createSuggestion).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "user-1",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        category: "current_goals",
+        sourceType: "chat",
+        sourceRef: { type: "ai_chat", id: "message-1" },
+      })
+    );
+    expect(suggestions).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("does not create suggestions when memory learning is disabled", async () => {
+    learningEnabled = false;
+
+    const suggestions = await extractMemoryCandidates(
+      "user-1",
+      "chat",
+      "I like learning with examples"
+    );
+
+    expect(suggestions).toEqual([]);
+    expect(createSuggestion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.ts
index f902188..e1c4e45 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/services/memory-extraction.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
 import type { MemoryCategory, MemorySourceType } from "@adventureos/shared";
-import { SENSITIVE_MEMORY_CATEGORIES } from "@adventureos/shared";
+import { MEMORY_CATEGORIES, SENSITIVE_MEMORY_CATEGORIES } from "@adventureos/shared";
 import { parseAiJson } from "@/lib/ai/parse-json";
 import { getAiBehaviorConfig, getAiProviderConfig, generateTextWithFallback, buildSystemPrompt } from "./ai-config";
 import { createSuggestion, getMemoryLearningSettings } from "./ai-memory";
@@ -19,6 +19,111 @@ const candidateSchema = z.object({
     .max(2),
 });
 
+export type MemorySuggestionCandidate = {
+  category: MemoryCategory;
+  title: string;
+  content: string;
+  confidence: number;
+};
+
+type PatternRule = {
+  category: MemoryCategory;
+  confidence: number;
+  patterns: RegExp[];
+  titlePrefix?: string;
+  content: (value: string) => string;
+};
+
+const FILLER_PREFIX = /^(?:that\s+|to\s+|i\s+|i'm\s+|i am\s+|my\s+)/i;
+
+const RULES: PatternRule[] = [
+  {
+    category: "current_goals",
+    confidence: 0.9,
+    patterns: [
+      /^(?:one of my goals|my current goal|my goal|a goal of mine)(?:\s+for\s+.+?)?\s+is\s+(.+)$/i,
+      /^i want to\s+(.+)$/i,
+      /^i'm trying to\s+(.+)$/i,
+      /^i am trying to\s+(.+)$/i,
+      /^i want to be more\s+(.+)$/i,
+      /^my current focus is\s+(.+)$/i,
+    ],
+    content: (value) => `One of the user's current goals is to ${ensureVerbPhrase(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "likes",
+    confidence: 0.85,
+    patterns: [/^i like\s+(.+)$/i],
+    content: (value) => `The user likes ${lowerFirst(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "dislikes",
+    confidence: 0.85,
+    patterns: [/^i dislike\s+(.+)$/i, /^i don't like\s+(.+)$/i, /^i do not like\s+(.+)$/i],
+    content: (value) => `The user dislikes ${lowerFirst(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "ai_tone",
+    confidence: 0.9,
+    patterns: [/^i prefer\s+(short explanations|direct explanations|concise explanations|brief explanations|.+\s+explanations)$/i, /^i want the ai to\s+(.+)$/i],
+    content: (value) =>
+      /\bexplanations\b/i.test(value)
+        ? `The user prefers ${lowerFirst(value)}.`
+        : `The user wants the AI to ${ensureVerbPhrase(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "worries",
+    confidence: 0.8,
+    patterns: [/^i get worried when\s+(.+)$/i, /^i'm worried about\s+(.+)$/i, /^i am worried about\s+(.+)$/i],
+    content: (value) => `The user has a worry or concern about ${lowerFirst(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "personal_context",
+    confidence: 0.75,
+    patterns: [/^i struggle with\s+(.+)$/i, /^i need help with\s+(.+)$/i],
+    content: (value) => `The user needs support with ${lowerFirst(value)}.`,
+  },
+  {
+    category: "personal_context",
+    confidence: 0.95,
+    patterns: [/^(?:remember that|save this:?|add this to memory:?)(.+)$/i],
+    titlePrefix: "Remember",
+    content: (value) => `The user explicitly asked the app to remember that ${stripTrailingPunctuation(value)}.`,
+  },
+];
+
+const LEARNING_HINTS = /\b(learn|learning|examples?|explanations?|teach|lesson)\b/i;
+const EXERCISE_HINTS = /\b(exercise|work out|workout|run|gym|walk|train)\b/i;
+const UNSPECIFIC_MESSAGES = /^(hello|hi|hey|thanks|thank you|what can you do\??|that's interesting|that is interesting)$/i;
+
+export function extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates(sourceText: string): MemorySuggestionCandidate[] {
+  const normalized = normalizeInput(sourceText);
+  if (!normalized || normalized.length < 8 || UNSPECIFIC_MESSAGES.test(normalized)) return [];
+
+  for (const rule of RULES) {
+    for (const pattern of rule.patterns) {
+      const match = normalized.match(pattern);
+      const rawValue = match?.[1]?.trim();
+      if (!rawValue) continue;
+
+      const value = cleanValue(rawValue);
+      if (!isDurableEnough(value)) return [];
+
+      const category = refineCategory(rule.category, normalized, value);
+      return [
+        {
+          category,
+          title: buildTitle(value, rule.titlePrefix),
+          content: refineContent(rule.content(value), normalized),
+          confidence: rule.confidence,
+        },
+      ];
+    }
+  }
+
+  return [];
+}
+
 export async function extractMemoryCandidates(
   userId: string,
   sourceType: MemorySourceType,
@@ -26,18 +131,52 @@ export async function extractMemoryCandidates(
   sourceRef?: { type: string; id?: string; date?: string }
 ) {
   const settings = await getMemoryLearningSettings(userId);
-  if (!settings.learningEnabled || !settings.autoSuggestEnabled) return [];
+  if (
+    !settings.learningEnabled ||
+    !settings.autoSuggestEnabled ||
+    (sourceType === "chat" && !settings.suggestAfterChat)
+  ) {
+    return [];
+  }
 
-  const behavior = await getAiBehaviorConfig(userId);
-  const providerConfig = await getAiProviderConfig(userId);
-  if (!behavior.enabled || !providerConfig.enabled) return [];
+  const results = [];
+  const deterministic = extractDeterministicMemoryCandidates(sourceText);
+  for (const c of deterministic) {
+    if (!settings.allowedCategories.includes(c.category)) continue;
+    if (
+      SENSITIVE_MEMORY_CATEGORIES.includes(c.category) &&
+      !settings.allowSensitiveCategories
+    ) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    const row = await createSuggestion(userId, {
+      category: c.category,
+      title: c.title,
+      content: c.content,
+      sourceType,
+      sourceRef,
+      confidence: c.confidence,
+    });
+    if (row) results.push(row);
+  }
+
+  let behavior: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getAiBehaviorConfig>>;
+  let providerConfig: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getAiProviderConfig>>;
+  try {
+    behavior = await getAiBehaviorConfig(userId);
+    providerConfig = await getAiProviderConfig(userId);
+  } catch {
+    return results;
+  }
+  if (!behavior.enabled || !providerConfig.enabled) return results;
 
   const prompt = `From this user text, suggest 0-2 personal memory facts the app could remember (only clear patterns, not guesses).
 User text:
 """
 ${sourceText.slice(0, 1500)}
 """
-Return JSON: { "candidates": [{ "category": "likes|motivators|current_goals|reading_preferences|learning_interests|worries|...", "title": "short label", "content": "one sentence fact", "confidence": 0.0-1.0, "sensitivity": "normal|private|sensitive" }] }
+Use only these categories: ${Object.keys(MEMORY_CATEGORIES).join(", ")}.
+Return JSON: { "candidates": [{ "category": "likes|motivators|current_goals|reading_preferences|learning_interests|worries|...", "title": "short label", "content": "one sentence fact about the user", "confidence": 0.0-1.0, "sensitivity": "normal|private|sensitive" }] }
 If nothing clear, return { "candidates": [] }.`;
 
   try {
@@ -57,9 +196,8 @@ If nothing clear, return { "candidates": [] }.`;
     );
 
     const parsed = candidateSchema.safeParse(parseAiJson(res.text));
-    if (!parsed.success) return [];
+    if (!parsed.success) return results;
 
-    const results = [];
     for (const c of parsed.data.candidates) {
       if (c.confidence < 0.6) continue;
       if (!settings.allowedCategories.includes(c.category as MemoryCategory)) continue;
@@ -81,7 +219,7 @@ If nothing clear, return { "candidates": [] }.`;
     }
     return results;
   } catch {
-    return [];
+    return results;
   }
 }
 
@@ -89,3 +227,68 @@ async function getTemplateBody(userId: string) {
   const { getTemplateBody: getTpl } = await import("./ai-templates");
   return getTpl(userId, "system_core");
 }
+
+function normalizeInput(value: string): string {
+  return value.trim().replace(/[’‘]/g, "'").replace(/\s+/g, " ");
+}
+
+function cleanValue(value: string): string {
+  return stripTrailingPunctuation(value.replace(FILLER_PREFIX, "").trim());
+}
+
+function stripTrailingPunctuation(value: string): string {
+  return value.trim().replace(/[.!?]+$/g, "").trim();
+}
+
+function isDurableEnough(value: string): boolean {
+  const lower = value.toLowerCase();
+  if (value.length < 4) return false;
+  if (/^(this|that|it|stuff|things|more|better)$/i.test(lower)) return false;
+  return true;
+}
+
+function refineCategory(category: MemoryCategory, fullText: string, value: string): MemoryCategory {
+  const combined = `${fullText} ${value}`;
+  if (category === "likes" && LEARNING_HINTS.test(combined)) return "learning_interests";
+  if (category === "current_goals" && EXERCISE_HINTS.test(combined)) return "exercise_preferences";
+  return category;
+}
+
+function refineContent(content: string, fullText: string): string {
+  if (/one of my goals/i.test(fullText) && /next coming weeks|next few weeks/i.test(fullText)) {
+    return content.replace("current goals is to", "goals for the next few weeks is to");
+  }
+  return content;
+}
+
+function ensureVerbPhrase(value: string): string {
+  const cleaned = lowerFirst(stripTrailingPunctuation(value));
+  if (/^(be|build|wake|read|exercise|work|study|learn|sleep|get|start|stop|finish|practice|focus)\b/i.test(cleaned)) {
+    return cleaned;
+  }
+  return cleaned;
+}
+
+function lowerFirst(value: string): string {
+  return value.charAt(0).toLowerCase() + value.slice(1);
+}
+
+function buildTitle(value: string, prefix?: string): string {
+  const clean = stripTrailingPunctuation(value)
+    .replace(/\b7\s*a\.?\s*m\.?\b/gi, "7am")
+    .replace(/\s+/g, " ")
+    .trim();
+  const title = clean
+    .replace(/^(?:to\s+)/i, "")
+    .split(" ")
+    .slice(0, 8)
+    .map((word, index) => {
+      if (/^\d/.test(word)) return word;
+      if (index > 0 && /^(at|to|with|for|and|or|the|a|an|of)$/i.test(word)) {
+        return word.toLowerCase();
+      }
+      return word.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + word.slice(1).toLowerCase();
+    })
+    .join(" ");
+  return prefix ? `${prefix}: ${title}` : title;
+}
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/memory.ts b/packages/shared/src/memory.ts
index bcdaa87..72b8788 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/memory.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/memory.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ export const MEMORY_SENSITIVITY_LEVELS = ["normal", "private", "sensitive"] as c
 export type MemorySensitivity = (typeof MEMORY_SENSITIVITY_LEVELS)[number];
 
 export const SENSITIVE_MEMORY_CATEGORIES: MemoryCategory[] = [
-  "worries",
   "personal_context",
   "boundaries",
 ];
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_AI_MEMORY_LEARNING: AiMemoryLearningSettings = {
     (c) => !SENSITIVE_MEMORY_CATEGORIES.includes(c)
   ),
   suggestAfterReflection: true,
-  suggestAfterChat: false,
+  suggestAfterChat: true,
   maxPendingSuggestions: 10,
   minDaysBetweenNudges: 3,
   allowSensitiveCategories: false,