diff --git a/apps/x/ANALYTICS.md b/apps/x/ANALYTICS.md
index 59183479..cf3a0790 100644
--- a/apps/x/ANALYTICS.md
+++ b/apps/x/ANALYTICS.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Emitted whenever ai-sdk returns token usage (one event per LLM call, not per run
 | `sub_use_case` | string? | Refines `use_case` — see taxonomy table below |
 | `agent_name` | string? | Present when the call goes through an agent run (`createRun`); omitted for direct `generateText`/`generateObject` |
 | `model` | string | e.g. `claude-sonnet-4-6` |
-| `provider` | string | `rowboat` = cloud LLM gateway; otherwise the BYOK provider (`openai`, `anthropic`, `ollama`, etc.) |
+| `provider` | string | The provider FLAVOR: `rowboat` = cloud LLM gateway, `codex` = ChatGPT subscription, else the BYOK flavor (`openai`, `anthropic`, `ollama`, …). Call sites pass instance ids; `captureLlmUsage` maps id → flavor so charts never fracture if user-named provider instances ship (ids never leave the app) |
 | `input_tokens` | number | |
 | `output_tokens` | number | |
 | `total_tokens` | number | |
@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@ Emitted on rowboat disconnect. No properties. Followed immediately by `posthog.r
 
 Emit points: `apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts:369` and `apps/renderer/src/hooks/useAnalyticsIdentity.ts:82`.
 
+### Model-provider lifecycle
+
+Privacy rules (enforced in `packages/core/src/analytics/model-providers.ts`): only provider **flavors** are captured — never instance ids (future-proofing for user-named instances), never `apiKey`/`headers`, and never `baseURL` (local endpoints can carry internal hostnames). Model ids are allowed.
+
+- `llm_provider_connected` / `llm_provider_disconnected` — `{ flavor }` — one event family across every surface. BYOK fires from `FSModelConfigRepo.setProvider` (new entries only — key rotation is not a connect) / `removeProvider`; `rowboat` from sign-in/out (`apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts`); `codex` from ChatGPT sign-in/out (`apps/main/src/ipc.ts`).
+- `llm_initial_model_selected` — `{ flavor, model, recommended, source: 'connect' | 'onboarding' | 'sign_in' }` — a connect seeded the assistant model (only when none was configured). `recommended: false` = first-listed fallback; the hit rate measures backend recommendation quality. Emit points: `apps/renderer/src/components/settings/providers-section.tsx` (connect/onboarding) and `packages/core/src/models/rowboat-selection.ts` (sign-in).
+- `models_config_migrated` — `{ had_assistant, materialized_overrides, provider_count }` — one-shot per install at the models.json v1 → v2 boot migration (`FSModelConfigRepo.ensureConfig`); rollout health for the schema change.
+
 ### Other events (pre-existing, not added by the LLM-usage work)
 
 All in `apps/renderer/src/lib/analytics.ts`:
@@ -210,6 +218,9 @@ Persistent across sessions for the same user. Set via `posthog.people.set` or as
 | `has_used_search`, `has_used_voice` | renderer | One-shot first-use flags |
 | `has_used_email`, `has_used_meetings`, `has_used_live_notes`, `has_used_bg_agents`, `has_used_apps`, `has_used_code` | renderer (`view_opened`) | One-shot first-use flags per feature view |
 | `has_created_bg_agent` | renderer | One-shot: user set up a background agent |
+| `llm_provider_flavors` | main | Sorted array of connected provider flavors incl. `rowboat`/`codex` from auth state (e.g. `["openai","openrouter","rowboat"]`). Synced on every launch and after any provider/assistant change (`packages/core/src/analytics/model-providers.ts`) |
+| `llm_provider_count` | main | Size of `llm_provider_flavors` |
+| `assistant_model`, `assistant_model_flavor` | main | The configured primary model (complements `llm_usage`, which reports actual usage). Absent until an assistant is configured |
 
 ## How to add a new event
 
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts b/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
index cd8e586f..cc9d177c 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import type { ITurnEventBus } from '@x/core/dist/runtime/turns/event-hub.js';
 import container from '@x/core/dist/di/container.js';
 import { testModelConnection, listModelsForProvider, generateOneShot } from '@x/core/dist/models/models.js';
 import { getModelCatalog } from '@x/core/dist/models/catalog.js';
+import { captureProviderConnected, captureProviderDisconnected } from '@x/core/dist/analytics/model-providers.js';
 import { getDefaultModelAndProvider } from '@x/core/dist/models/defaults.js';
 import { isSignedIn } from '@x/core/dist/account/account.js';
 import type { IModelConfigRepo } from '@x/core/dist/models/repo.js';
@@ -1336,6 +1337,7 @@ export function setupIpcHandlers() {
         // Model lists gate on sign-in state (composer picker, models:list) —
         // push the change so they refresh without polling.
         broadcastToWindows('chatgpt:statusChanged', { signedIn: true });
+        captureProviderConnected('codex');
       }
       return result;
     },
@@ -1347,6 +1349,7 @@ export function setupIpcHandlers() {
       try {
         await signOutChatGPT();
         broadcastToWindows('chatgpt:statusChanged', { signedIn: false });
+        captureProviderDisconnected('codex');
         return { success: true };
       } catch (error) {
         console.error('[ChatGPTAuth] Sign-out failed:', error);
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/main/src/main.ts b/apps/x/apps/main/src/main.ts
index e442cba3..8b627ca2 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/main/src/main.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/main/src/main.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import { setTokenCipher as setGithubTokenCipher } from "@x/core/dist/apps/github
 import { setTokenCipher as setChatGPTTokenCipher } from "@x/core/dist/auth/chatgpt-auth.js";
 import { shutdown as shutdownAnalytics } from "@x/core/dist/analytics/posthog.js";
 import { identifyIfSignedIn } from "@x/core/dist/analytics/identify.js";
+import { syncModelProviderPersonProperties } from "@x/core/dist/analytics/model-providers.js";
 import { migrateRuns } from "@x/core/dist/migrations/runs/migrate.js";
 
 import { initConfigs } from "@x/core/dist/config/initConfigs.js";
@@ -511,6 +512,11 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
   identifyIfSignedIn().catch((error) => {
     console.error('[Analytics] Failed to identify on startup:', error);
   });
+  // Baseline the provider person properties (llm_provider_flavors et al) on
+  // every launch — existing installs get them without any provider action.
+  syncModelProviderPersonProperties().catch((error) => {
+    console.error('[Analytics] Failed to sync provider properties:', error);
+  });
 
   registerBrowserControlService(new ElectronBrowserControlService());
   registerNotificationService(new ElectronNotificationService(APP_LAUNCHED_AT));
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts b/apps/x/apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts
index 78d6c4d1..a5c458ba 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/main/src/oauth-handler.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { isSignedIn } from '@x/core/dist/account/account.js';
 import { getWebappUrl } from '@x/core/dist/config/remote-config.js';
 import { claimTokensViaBackend } from '@x/core/dist/auth/google-backend-oauth.js';
 import { applyRowboatInitialSelection, clearRowboatSelections } from '@x/core/dist/models/rowboat-selection.js';
+import { captureProviderConnected, captureProviderDisconnected } from '@x/core/dist/analytics/model-providers.js';
 
 function buildRedirectUri(port: number): string {
   return `http://localhost:${port}/oauth/callback`;
@@ -345,6 +346,7 @@ export async function connectProvider(provider: string, credentials?: { clientId
             // the gateway lists it, else first listed). Never replaces a
             // saved choice; best-effort by design.
             await applyRowboatInitialSelection();
+            captureProviderConnected('rowboat');
             try {
               const billing = await getBillingInfo();
               if (billing.userId) {
@@ -540,6 +542,7 @@ export async function disconnectProvider(provider: string): Promise<{ success: b
       // selections that reference it (same dangling-ref cleanup as removing
       // any provider). The composer prompts for a new pick.
       await clearRowboatSelections();
+      captureProviderDisconnected('rowboat');
     }
     // Notify renderer so sidebar, voice, and billing re-check state
     emitOAuthEvent({ provider, success: false });
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/providers-section.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/providers-section.tsx
index 508df12f..0eb15424 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/providers-section.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/providers-section.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react"
 import { toast } from "sonner"
+import * as analytics from "@/lib/analytics"
 import { ArrowLeft, CheckCircle2, Loader2, Plus, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
 import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogHeader, DialogTitle } from "@/components/ui/dialog"
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ export function ProvidersSection({ dialogOpen, variant = "settings" }: {
         onChatGPTSignIn={chatgpt.signIn}
         hadAssistant={selections.assistantModel !== null}
         modelRecommendations={modelRecommendations}
+        analyticsSource={variant === "onboarding" ? "onboarding" : "connect"}
       />
 
       {manageCard && (
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ type AddStep =
   | { kind: "result"; name: string; first: boolean; pickedModel: string | null; modelCount: number | null }
   | { kind: "error"; flavor: ByokFlavor; message: string }
 
-function AddProviderDialog({ open, onOpenChange, connectedIds, isRowboatConnected, chatgptSignedIn, onChatGPTSignIn, hadAssistant, modelRecommendations }: {
+function AddProviderDialog({ open, onOpenChange, connectedIds, isRowboatConnected, chatgptSignedIn, onChatGPTSignIn, hadAssistant, modelRecommendations, analyticsSource }: {
   open: boolean
   onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void
   connectedIds: string[]
@@ -258,6 +260,7 @@ function AddProviderDialog({ open, onOpenChange, connectedIds, isRowboatConnecte
   onChatGPTSignIn: () => Promise<unknown> | void
   hadAssistant: boolean
   modelRecommendations: Record<string, string> | undefined
+  analyticsSource: 'connect' | 'onboarding'
 }) {
   const [step, setStep] = useState<AddStep>({ kind: "choose" })
   const [apiKey, setApiKey] = useState("")
@@ -392,6 +395,12 @@ function AddProviderDialog({ open, onOpenChange, connectedIds, isRowboatConnecte
       const hasAssistantNow = cfgNow ? cfgNow.assistantModel !== null : hadAssistant
       if (!hasAssistantNow) {
         await window.ipc.invoke("models:updateConfig", { assistantModel: { provider: flavor, model } })
+        analytics.llmInitialModelSelected({
+          flavor,
+          model,
+          recommended: model === modelRecommendations?.[flavor],
+          source: analyticsSource,
+        })
       }
       for (const warning of testRes.warnings ?? []) {
         toast.warning(warning, { duration: 12000 })
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/analytics.ts b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/analytics.ts
index 0774e574..621c637b 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/analytics.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/lib/analytics.ts
@@ -336,3 +336,16 @@ export function settingsTabChanged(tab: string) {
 export function onboardingCompleted() {
   posthog.capture('onboarding_completed')
 }
+
+// A provider connect seeded the assistant model (only happens when none was
+// configured). `recommended` = the backend's flavor recommendation was in
+// the provider's live list; false = first-listed fallback. Flavor only —
+// never provider instance ids, keys, or endpoints.
+export function llmInitialModelSelected(props: {
+  flavor: string
+  model: string
+  recommended: boolean
+  source: 'connect' | 'onboarding'
+}) {
+  posthog.capture('llm_initial_model_selected', { ...props })
+}
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/model-providers.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/model-providers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3dc86d2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/model-providers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+import { capture, setPersonProperties } from "./posthog.js";
+import type { IModelConfigRepo } from "../models/repo.js";
+
+/**
+ * Provider-level analytics for model selection.
+ *
+ * Privacy rules, encoded here so call sites can't get them wrong:
+ * - Only provider FLAVORS ever leave the app. Instance ids equal flavor keys
+ *   today, but a future multi-key setup makes ids user-named — so every
+ *   surface maps id → flavor before capturing.
+ * - Never credentials: no apiKey, no headers, and no baseURL (local
+ *   endpoints can carry internal hostnames).
+ * - Model ids are fine (they already ride on llm_usage).
+ *
+ * All I/O is lazy (dynamic imports, container resolution at call time) so
+ * this module stays import-cycle-free — models/repo.ts imports it.
+ */
+
+const FLAVOR_CACHE_TTL_MS = 10_000;
+let flavorCache: { at: number; byId: Map<string, string> } | null = null;
+
+async function resolveRepo(): Promise<IModelConfigRepo> {
+    const { default: container } = await import("../di/container.js");
+    return container.resolve<IModelConfigRepo>("modelConfigRepo");
+}
+
+async function providerFlavorsById(): Promise<Map<string, string>> {
+    if (flavorCache && Date.now() - flavorCache.at < FLAVOR_CACHE_TTL_MS) {
+        return flavorCache.byId;
+    }
+    const byId = new Map<string, string>();
+    try {
+        const cfg = await (await resolveRepo()).getConfig();
+        for (const [id, entry] of Object.entries(cfg.providers)) {
+            byId.set(id, entry.flavor);
+        }
+    } catch {
+        // No config yet — empty map; ids fall through unchanged.
+    }
+    flavorCache = { at: Date.now(), byId };
+    return byId;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Map a provider instance id to its flavor for analytics. Unknown ids fall
+ * back to the raw value — which today always equals the flavor key.
+ */
+export async function flavorForProviderId(id: string): Promise<string> {
+    if (id === "rowboat" || id === "codex") return id;
+    return (await providerFlavorsById()).get(id) ?? id;
+}
+
+export function invalidateFlavorCache(): void {
+    flavorCache = null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Refresh the person properties describing the user's provider setup:
+ * `llm_provider_flavors` (sorted, includes rowboat/codex from auth state),
+ * `llm_provider_count`, and the configured assistant model. Call after any
+ * provider or assistant change; also called on every app launch so existing
+ * installs get baselined without waiting for an action.
+ */
+export async function syncModelProviderPersonProperties(): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+        const cfg = await (await resolveRepo()).getConfig().catch(() => null);
+        const { isSignedIn } = await import("../account/account.js");
+        const { getChatGPTStatus } = await import("../auth/chatgpt-auth.js");
+        const flavors = new Set<string>();
+        for (const entry of Object.values(cfg?.providers ?? {})) {
+            flavors.add(entry.flavor);
+        }
+        if (await isSignedIn().catch(() => false)) flavors.add("rowboat");
+        const chatgpt = await getChatGPTStatus().catch(() => ({ signedIn: false }));
+        if (chatgpt.signedIn) flavors.add("codex");
+
+        const assistant = cfg?.assistantModel ?? null;
+        setPersonProperties({
+            llm_provider_flavors: [...flavors].sort(),
+            llm_provider_count: flavors.size,
+            ...(assistant
+                ? {
+                    assistant_model: assistant.model,
+                    assistant_model_flavor: await flavorForProviderId(assistant.provider),
+                }
+                : {}),
+        });
+    } catch (err) {
+        console.error("[Analytics] provider person-props sync failed:", err);
+    }
+}
+
+/** One provider became connected (any surface: settings, onboarding, sign-in). */
+export function captureProviderConnected(flavor: string): void {
+    capture("llm_provider_connected", { flavor });
+    invalidateFlavorCache();
+    void syncModelProviderPersonProperties();
+}
+
+/** One provider was disconnected / signed out. */
+export function captureProviderDisconnected(flavor: string): void {
+    capture("llm_provider_disconnected", { flavor });
+    invalidateFlavorCache();
+    void syncModelProviderPersonProperties();
+}
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/posthog.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/posthog.ts
index 81e24eb8..3b93091c 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/posthog.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/posthog.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,21 @@ export function reset(): void {
   identifiedUserId = null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Merge person properties onto the CURRENT identity — the rowboat user once
+ * identified, else the anonymous installation id (identify on the same
+ * distinctId merges properties without changing identity).
+ */
+export function setPersonProperties(properties: Record<string, unknown>): void {
+  const ph = getClient();
+  if (!ph) return;
+  try {
+    ph.identify({ distinctId: activeDistinctId(), properties });
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[Analytics] setPersonProperties failed:', err);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Evaluate a PostHog feature flag for the current identity (rowboat user id
  * once identified, installation id before that). `defaultValue` is returned
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/usage.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/usage.ts
index 31b703dc..a5421f33 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/usage.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/analytics/usage.ts
@@ -21,18 +21,29 @@ export interface CaptureLlmUsageArgs {
 }
 
 export function captureLlmUsage(args: CaptureLlmUsageArgs): void {
-  const usage = args.usage ?? {};
-  const properties: Record<string, unknown> = {
-    use_case: args.useCase,
-    model: args.model,
-    provider: args.provider,
-    input_tokens: usage.inputTokens ?? 0,
-    output_tokens: usage.outputTokens ?? 0,
-    total_tokens: usage.totalTokens ?? (usage.inputTokens ?? 0) + (usage.outputTokens ?? 0),
-  };
-  if (args.subUseCase) properties.sub_use_case = args.subUseCase;
-  if (args.agentName) properties.agent_name = args.agentName;
-  if (usage.cachedInputTokens != null) properties.cached_input_tokens = usage.cachedInputTokens;
-  if (usage.reasoningTokens != null) properties.reasoning_tokens = usage.reasoningTokens;
-  capture('llm_usage', properties);
+  // Fire-and-forget: callers pass the provider INSTANCE id (ModelRef
+  // .provider); analytics reports the FLAVOR — ids may one day be
+  // user-named, and charts must not fracture when "openai-work" appears.
+  // Today ids equal flavor keys, so the fallback is lossless.
+  void (async () => {
+    let provider = args.provider;
+    try {
+      const { flavorForProviderId } = await import('./model-providers.js');
+      provider = await flavorForProviderId(args.provider);
+    } catch { /* keep the raw value */ }
+    const usage = args.usage ?? {};
+    const properties: Record<string, unknown> = {
+      use_case: args.useCase,
+      model: args.model,
+      provider,
+      input_tokens: usage.inputTokens ?? 0,
+      output_tokens: usage.outputTokens ?? 0,
+      total_tokens: usage.totalTokens ?? (usage.inputTokens ?? 0) + (usage.outputTokens ?? 0),
+    };
+    if (args.subUseCase) properties.sub_use_case = args.subUseCase;
+    if (args.agentName) properties.agent_name = args.agentName;
+    if (usage.cachedInputTokens != null) properties.cached_input_tokens = usage.cachedInputTokens;
+    if (usage.reasoningTokens != null) properties.reasoning_tokens = usage.reasoningTokens;
+    capture('llm_usage', properties);
+  })();
 }
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/chatgpt-selection.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/chatgpt-selection.ts
index 36d04005..1f1a57c4 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/chatgpt-selection.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/chatgpt-selection.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { IModelConfigRepo } from "./repo.js";
 import { listCodexModels } from "./codex.js";
 import { getRowboatConfig } from "../config/rowboat.js";
 import { selectInitialModel } from "./initial-selection.js";
+import { capture } from "../analytics/posthog.js";
 
 /**
  * Model-selection hooks for the ChatGPT-subscription (codex) sign-in
@@ -27,6 +28,12 @@ export async function applyCodexInitialSelection(): Promise<void> {
         const model = selectInitialModel("codex", ids, recommendations);
         if (model) {
             await repo.updateConfig({ assistantModel: { provider: "codex", model } });
+            capture("llm_initial_model_selected", {
+                flavor: "codex",
+                model,
+                recommended: model === recommendations?.["codex"],
+                source: "sign_in",
+            });
         }
     } catch (error) {
         // Best-effort: a failed initial selection must never break sign-in.
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/repo.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/repo.ts
index 6936c447..0311c5eb 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/repo.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/repo.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import { LlmModelConfig, LlmProvider, ModelRef, TaskModels } from "@x/shared/dist/models.js";
 import { WorkDir } from "../config/config.js";
 import { isSignedIn } from "../account/account.js";
+import { capture } from "../analytics/posthog.js";
+import {
+    captureProviderConnected,
+    captureProviderDisconnected,
+    syncModelProviderPersonProperties,
+} from "../analytics/model-providers.js";
 import { migrateModelsConfig } from "./migrate.js";
 import fs from "fs/promises";
 import path from "path";
@@ -81,6 +87,12 @@ export class FSModelConfigRepo implements IModelConfigRepo {
             // record of the old selections once it runs.
             await fs.writeFile(`${this.configPath}.v1.bak`, rawText).catch(() => {});
             await this.write(migrated);
+            // One-shot rollout signal for the v1 → v2 schema migration.
+            capture("models_config_migrated", {
+                had_assistant: Boolean(migrated.assistantModel),
+                materialized_overrides: Object.keys(migrated.taskModels ?? {}).length,
+                provider_count: Object.keys(migrated.providers).length,
+            });
         }
     }
 
@@ -98,6 +110,7 @@ export class FSModelConfigRepo implements IModelConfigRepo {
             throw new Error(`Provider flavor '${provider.flavor}' is auth-derived and cannot be stored in models.json`);
         }
         const config = await this.read();
+        const isNew = !config.providers[id];
         // Merge over an existing entry: replacing a key must not wipe
         // hand-tuned connection prefs (contextLength, reasoningEffort).
         config.providers[id] = LlmProvider.parse({
@@ -105,10 +118,13 @@ export class FSModelConfigRepo implements IModelConfigRepo {
             ...provider,
         });
         await this.write(config);
+        // A brand-new entry is a connect; a key rotation is not.
+        if (isNew) captureProviderConnected(provider.flavor);
     }
 
     async removeProvider(id: string): Promise<void> {
         const config = await this.read();
+        const removed = config.providers[id];
         delete config.providers[id];
         if (config.assistantModel?.provider === id) {
             delete config.assistantModel;
@@ -122,6 +138,7 @@ export class FSModelConfigRepo implements IModelConfigRepo {
             if (Object.keys(config.taskModels).length === 0) delete config.taskModels;
         }
         await this.write(config);
+        if (removed) captureProviderDisconnected(removed.flavor);
     }
 
     async updateConfig(patch: ModelConfigPatch): Promise<void> {
@@ -145,6 +162,10 @@ export class FSModelConfigRepo implements IModelConfigRepo {
             else config.deferBackgroundTasks = patch.deferBackgroundTasks;
         }
         await this.write(config);
+        // The assistant person properties track the config.
+        if (patch.assistantModel !== undefined) {
+            void syncModelProviderPersonProperties();
+        }
     }
 
     private async read(): Promise<Config> {
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/rowboat-selection.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/rowboat-selection.ts
index 7e3c94e0..7a6bc1dc 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/rowboat-selection.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/models/rowboat-selection.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { IModelConfigRepo } from "./repo.js";
 import { listGatewayModels } from "./gateway.js";
 import { getRowboatConfig } from "../config/rowboat.js";
 import { selectInitialModel } from "./initial-selection.js";
+import { capture } from "../analytics/posthog.js";
 
 /**
  * Model-selection hooks for the Rowboat sign-in lifecycle. Signing in is
@@ -28,6 +29,14 @@ export async function applyRowboatInitialSelection(): Promise<void> {
         const model = selectInitialModel("rowboat", ids, recommendations);
         if (model) {
             await repo.updateConfig({ assistantModel: { provider: "rowboat", model } });
+            // Measures recommendation quality: hit = the backend's pick was
+            // in the gateway list; miss = first-listed fallback.
+            capture("llm_initial_model_selected", {
+                flavor: "rowboat",
+                model,
+                recommended: model === recommendations?.["rowboat"],
+                source: "sign_in",
+            });
         }
     } catch (error) {
         // Best-effort: a failed initial selection must never break sign-in.