diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
index 681dc315a..b3cfc4476 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export const AssistantMessage: FC = () => {
 
 			{/* Mobile & Medium screen comment trigger - shown below lg breakpoint */}
 			{showCommentTrigger && !isDesktop && (
-				<div className="mt-2 flex justify-start">
+				<div className="ml-2 mt-1 flex justify-start">
 					<button
 						type="button"
 						onClick={handleCommentTriggerClick}
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ const AssistantActionBar: FC = () => {
 			hideWhenRunning
 			autohide="not-last"
 			autohideFloat="single-branch"
-			className="aui-assistant-action-bar-root -ml-1 col-start-3 row-start-2 flex gap-1 text-muted-foreground data-floating:absolute data-floating:rounded-md data-floating:border data-floating:bg-background data-floating:p-1 data-floating:shadow-sm"
+			className="aui-assistant-action-bar-root -ml-1 col-start-3 row-start-2 flex gap-1 text-muted-foreground md:data-floating:absolute md:data-floating:rounded-md md:data-floating:border md:data-floating:bg-background md:data-floating:p-1 md:data-floating:shadow-sm [&>button]:opacity-100 md:[&>button]:opacity-[var(--aui-button-opacity,1)]"
 		>
 			<ActionBarPrimitive.Copy asChild>
 				<TooltipIconButton tooltip="Copy">
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-composer/comment-composer.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-composer/comment-composer.tsx
index 2ddfb300b..c5007e764 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-composer/comment-composer.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-composer/comment-composer.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ function findMentionTrigger(
 		return { isActive: false, query: "", startIndex: 0 };
 	}
 
-	const fullMatch = mentionMatch[0];
 	const query = mentionMatch[1];
 	const atIndex = cursorPos - query.length - 1;
 
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ function findMentionTrigger(
 export function CommentComposer({
 	members,
 	membersLoading = false,
-	placeholder = "Write a comment...",
+	placeholder = "Comment or @mention",
 	submitLabel = "Send",
 	isSubmitting = false,
 	onSubmit,
@@ -145,6 +144,13 @@ export function CommentComposer({
 		const cursorPos = e.target.selectionStart;
 		setDisplayContent(value);
 
+		// Auto-resize textarea on content change
+		requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+			const textarea = e.target;
+			textarea.style.height = "auto";
+			textarea.style.height = `${textarea.scrollHeight}px`;
+		});
+
 		const triggerResult = findMentionTrigger(value, cursorPos, insertedMentions);
 
 		if (triggerResult.isActive) {
@@ -208,9 +214,9 @@ export function CommentComposer({
 
 		const mentionPattern = /@([^\s@]+(?:\s+[^\s@]+)*?)(?=\s|$|[.,!?;:]|@)/g;
 		const foundMentions: InsertedMention[] = [];
-		let match: RegExpExecArray | null;
+		const matches = initialValue.matchAll(mentionPattern);
 
-		while ((match = mentionPattern.exec(initialValue)) !== null) {
+		for (const match of matches) {
 			const displayName = match[1];
 			const member = members.find(
 				(m) => m.displayName === displayName || m.email.split("@")[0] === displayName
@@ -237,6 +243,19 @@ export function CommentComposer({
 
 	const canSubmit = displayContent.trim().length > 0 && !isSubmitting;
 
+	// Auto-resize textarea
+	const adjustTextareaHeight = useCallback(() => {
+		const textarea = textareaRef.current;
+		if (textarea) {
+			textarea.style.height = "auto";
+			textarea.style.height = `${textarea.scrollHeight}px`;
+		}
+	}, []);
+
+	useEffect(() => {
+		adjustTextareaHeight();
+	}, [adjustTextareaHeight]);
+
 	return (
 		<div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
 			<Popover
@@ -251,7 +270,8 @@ export function CommentComposer({
 						onChange={handleInputChange}
 						onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
 						placeholder={placeholder}
-						className="min-h-[80px] resize-none"
+						className="min-h-[40px] max-h-[200px] resize-none overflow-y-auto scrollbar-thin"
+						rows={1}
 						disabled={isSubmitting}
 					/>
 				</PopoverAnchor>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-actions.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-actions.tsx
index a886521a7..d31c44182 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-actions.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-actions.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export function CommentActions({ canEdit, canDelete, onEdit, onDelete }: Comment
 				<Button
 					variant="ghost"
 					size="icon"
-					className="size-7 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
+					className="size-7 opacity-100 md:opacity-0 md:group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
 				>
 					<MoreHorizontal className="size-4" />
 				</Button>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-item.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-item.tsx
index 8489bdb4a..ac75eb776 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-item.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-item/comment-item.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useAtom } from "jotai";
 import { MessageSquare } from "lucide-react";
-import { currentUserAtom } from "@/atoms/user/user-query.atoms";
 import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
@@ -115,12 +113,7 @@ export function CommentItem({
 	members = [],
 	membersLoading = false,
 }: CommentItemProps) {
-	const [{ data: currentUser }] = useAtom(currentUserAtom);
-
-	const isCurrentUser = currentUser?.id === comment.author?.id;
-	const displayName = isCurrentUser
-		? "Me"
-		: comment.author?.displayName || comment.author?.email.split("@")[0] || "Unknown";
+	const displayName = comment.author?.displayName || comment.author?.email.split("@")[0] || "Unknown";
 	const email = comment.author?.email || "";
 
 	const handleEditSubmit = (content: string) => {
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-panel/comment-panel.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-panel/comment-panel.tsx
index 12f336d85..1fbd4863c 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-panel/comment-panel.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-panel/comment-panel.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,25 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { MessageSquarePlus } from "lucide-react";
-import { useState } from "react";
-import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { useAtom } from "jotai";
+import { currentUserAtom } from "@/atoms/user/user-query.atoms";
+import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from "@/components/ui/avatar";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { CommentComposer } from "../comment-composer/comment-composer";
 import { CommentThread } from "../comment-thread/comment-thread";
 import type { CommentPanelProps } from "./types";
 
+function getInitials(name: string | null | undefined, email: string): string {
+	if (name) {
+		return name
+			.split(" ")
+			.map((part) => part[0])
+			.join("")
+			.toUpperCase()
+			.slice(0, 2);
+	}
+	return email[0].toUpperCase();
+}
+
 export function CommentPanel({
 	threads,
 	members,
@@ -21,15 +33,10 @@ export function CommentPanel({
 	maxHeight,
 	variant = "desktop",
 }: CommentPanelProps) {
-	const [isComposerOpen, setIsComposerOpen] = useState(false);
+	const [{ data: currentUser }] = useAtom(currentUserAtom);
 
 	const handleCommentSubmit = (content: string) => {
 		onCreateComment(content);
-		setIsComposerOpen(false);
-	};
-
-	const handleComposerCancel = () => {
-		setIsComposerOpen(false);
 	};
 
 	const isMobile = variant === "mobile";
@@ -51,7 +58,6 @@ export function CommentPanel({
 	}
 
 	const hasThreads = threads.length > 0;
-	const showEmptyState = !hasThreads && !isComposerOpen;
 
 	// Ensure minimum usable height for empty state + composer button
 	const minHeight = 180;
@@ -81,38 +87,30 @@ export function CommentPanel({
 				</div>
 			)}
 
-			{showEmptyState && (
-				<div className="flex min-h-[120px] flex-col items-center justify-center gap-2 p-4 text-center">
-					<MessageSquarePlus className="size-8 text-muted-foreground/50" />
-					<p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No comments yet</p>
-					<p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/70">
-						Start a conversation about this response
-					</p>
+			{!hasThreads && currentUser && (
+				<div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 pt-4 pb-1">
+					<Avatar className="size-10">
+						<AvatarImage src={currentUser.avatar_url ?? undefined} alt={currentUser.display_name ?? currentUser.email} />
+						<AvatarFallback className="bg-primary/10 text-primary text-sm font-medium">
+							{getInitials(currentUser.display_name, currentUser.email)}
+						</AvatarFallback>
+					</Avatar>
+					<div className="flex flex-col">
+						<span className="text-sm font-medium">{currentUser.display_name ?? currentUser.email}</span>
+					</div>
 				</div>
 			)}
 
-			<div className={cn("p-3", showEmptyState && !isMobile && "border-t", isMobile && "border-t")}>
-				{isComposerOpen ? (
-					<CommentComposer
-						members={members}
-						membersLoading={membersLoading}
-						placeholder="Write a comment..."
-						submitLabel="Comment"
-						isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
-						onSubmit={handleCommentSubmit}
-						onCancel={handleComposerCancel}
-						autoFocus
-					/>
-				) : (
-					<Button
-						variant="ghost"
-						className="w-full justify-start text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
-						onClick={() => setIsComposerOpen(true)}
-					>
-						<MessageSquarePlus className="mr-2 size-4" />
-						Add a comment...
-					</Button>
-				)}
+			<div className="p-3">
+				<CommentComposer
+					members={members}
+					membersLoading={membersLoading}
+					placeholder="Comment or @mention"
+					submitLabel="Comment"
+					isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
+					onSubmit={handleCommentSubmit}
+					autoFocus={!hasThreads}
+				/>
 			</div>
 		</div>
 	);
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-sheet/comment-sheet.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-sheet/comment-sheet.tsx
index 86597e5dd..f707730b9 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-sheet/comment-sheet.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-sheet/comment-sheet.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export function CommentSheet({
 			<SheetContent
 				side={side}
 				className={cn(
-					"flex flex-col p-0",
+					"flex flex-col gap-0 overflow-hidden p-0",
 					isBottomSheet ? "h-[85vh] max-h-[85vh] rounded-t-xl" : "h-full w-full max-w-md"
 				)}
 			>
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export function CommentSheet({
 						)}
 					</SheetTitle>
 				</SheetHeader>
-				<div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
+				<div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto scrollbar-thin">
 					<CommentPanelContainer messageId={messageId} isOpen={true} variant="mobile" />
 				</div>
 			</SheetContent>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-thread/comment-thread.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-thread/comment-thread.tsx
index 1468cee33..64daba83a 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-thread/comment-thread.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-thread/comment-thread.tsx
@@ -128,23 +128,21 @@ export function CommentThread({
 						{/* Reply composer or button */}
 
 						{isReplyComposerOpen ? (
-							<>
-								<div className="pt-3">
-									<CommentComposer
-										members={members}
-										membersLoading={membersLoading}
-										placeholder="Write a reply..."
-										submitLabel="Reply"
-										isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
-										onSubmit={handleReplySubmit}
-										onCancel={handleReplyCancel}
-										autoFocus
-									/>
-								</div>
-							</>
+							<div className="pt-3">
+								<CommentComposer
+									members={members}
+									membersLoading={membersLoading}
+									placeholder="Reply or @mention"
+									submitLabel="Reply"
+									isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
+									onSubmit={handleReplySubmit}
+									onCancel={handleReplyCancel}
+									autoFocus
+								/>
+							</div>
 						) : (
 							<Button variant="ghost" size="sm" className="h-7 px-2 text-xs" onClick={handleReply}>
-								<MessageSquare className="mr-1.5 size-3" />
+								<MessageSquare className="mr-1 size-3" />
 								Reply
 							</Button>
 						)}
@@ -156,7 +154,7 @@ export function CommentThread({
 			{!hasReplies && !isReplyComposerOpen && (
 				<div className="ml-7 mt-1">
 					<Button variant="ghost" size="sm" className="h-7 px-2 text-xs" onClick={handleReply}>
-						<MessageSquare className="mr-1.5 size-3" />
+						<MessageSquare className="mr-1 size-3" />
 						Reply
 					</Button>
 				</div>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-trigger/comment-trigger.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-trigger/comment-trigger.tsx
index ca6cac186..60ea97ac6 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-trigger/comment-trigger.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/chat-comments/comment-trigger/comment-trigger.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { MessageSquare } from "lucide-react";
+import { MessageSquarePlus } from "lucide-react";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import type { CommentTriggerProps } from "./types";
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export function CommentTrigger({ commentCount, isOpen, onClick, disabled }: Comm
 			)}
 			onClick={onClick}
 		>
-			<MessageSquare className={cn("size-5", (hasComments || isOpen) && "fill-current")} />
+			<MessageSquarePlus className={cn("size-5", (hasComments || isOpen) && "fill-current")} />
 			{hasComments && (
 				<span className="absolute -top-1 -right-1 flex size-5 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary text-[10px] font-bold text-primary-foreground">
 					{commentCount > 9 ? "9+" : commentCount}