diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/agents/new_chat/middleware/memory_injection.py b/surfsense_backend/app/agents/new_chat/middleware/memory_injection.py
index 1768442be..9eba97057 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/agents/new_chat/middleware/memory_injection.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/agents/new_chat/middleware/memory_injection.py
@@ -93,10 +93,28 @@ class MemoryInjectionMiddleware(AgentMiddleware):  # type: ignore[type-arg]
     async def _load_user_memory(self, session: AsyncSession) -> str | None:
         try:
             result = await session.execute(
-                select(User.memory_md).where(User.id == self.user_id)
+                select(User.memory_md, User.display_name).where(
+                    User.id == self.user_id
+                )
             )
-            row = result.scalar_one_or_none()
-            return row if row else None
+            row = result.one_or_none()
+            if row is None:
+                return None
+
+            memory_md, display_name = row
+
+            if memory_md:
+                return memory_md
+
+            # No saved memory yet — seed with the user's first name so the
+            # LLM knows who it's talking to from the very first turn.  The
+            # name is only injected, not persisted; the LLM will include it
+            # naturally when it first calls update_memory.
+            if display_name:
+                first_name = display_name.split()[0]
+                return f"## About the user\n- Name: {first_name}"
+
+            return None
         except Exception:
             logger.exception("Failed to load user memory")
             return None
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
index b0d3ee73b..3776b77b7 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ import { useMediaQuery } from "@/hooks/use-media-query";
 import { useElectronAPI } from "@/hooks/use-platform";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
-const COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Ask anything · Type / for prompts · Type @ to mention docs";
+const COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Ask anything, type / for prompts, type @ to mention docs";
 
 export const Thread: FC = () => {
 	return <ThreadContent />;