diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AI/useAIChat.tsx b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AI/useAIChat.tsx
index b734483aa..b5a45e84d 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AI/useAIChat.tsx
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AI/useAIChat.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ export type AIChatState = {
      */
     query: string | null;
 
+    /**
+     * The first query sent to the AI. This is appended to the URL when the AI chat is opened.
+     */
+    initialQuery: string | null;
+
     /**
      * Messages in the session.
      */
@@ -79,6 +84,7 @@ const globalState = zustand.create<{
             followUpSuggestions: [],
             loading: false,
             error: false,
+            initialQuery: null,
         },
         setState: (fn) => set((state) => ({ state: { ...state.state, ...fn(state.state) } })),
     };
@@ -102,17 +108,14 @@ export function useAIChatController(): AIChatController {
     const trackEvent = useTrackEvent();
     const [searchState, setSearchState] = useSearch(true);
 
-    // Track if we've initialized from the URL ask parameter
-    const hasInitializedFromUrlRef = React.useRef<boolean>(false);
-
     // Open AI chat and sync with search state
     const onOpen = React.useCallback(() => {
-        const { messages } = globalState.getState().state;
+        const { initialQuery } = globalState.getState().state;
         setState((state) => ({ ...state, opened: true }));
 
         // Update search state to show ask mode with first message or current ask value
         setSearchState((prev) => ({
-            ask: prev?.ask ?? messages[0]?.query ?? '',
+            ask: prev?.ask ?? initialQuery ?? '',
             query: prev?.query ?? null,
             global: prev?.global ?? false,
             open: false, // Close search popover when opening chat
@@ -249,11 +252,9 @@ export function useAIChatController(): AIChatController {
             followUpSuggestions: [],
             responseId: null,
             error: false,
+            initialQuery: null,
         }));
 
-        // Reset initialization flag so URL ask can be processed again
-        hasInitializedFromUrlRef.current = false;
-
         // Reset ask parameter to empty string (keeps chat open but clears content)
         setSearchState((prev) => ({
             ask: '',
@@ -277,18 +278,21 @@ export function useAIChatController(): AIChatController {
 
         // Auto-post the message if ask has content
         if (searchState?.ask?.trim()) {
+            const trimmedAsk = searchState.ask.trim();
+            const { loading, initialQuery } = globalState.getState().state;
+
             // Don't trigger if we're already posting a message
-            const loading = globalState.getState().state.loading;
             if (loading) return;
 
-            // Only initialize once from URL
-            if (hasInitializedFromUrlRef.current) return;
+            // Only initialize once per URL ask value
+            if (initialQuery === trimmedAsk) return;
 
             // Wait for messageContextRef to be defined before proceeding
             if (!messageContextRef.current?.location) return;
 
-            hasInitializedFromUrlRef.current = true;
-            onPostMessage({ message: searchState.ask.trim() });
+            // Mark this ask value as processed
+            setState((state) => ({ ...state, initialQuery: trimmedAsk }));
+            onPostMessage({ message: trimmedAsk });
         }
     }, [
         searchState?.ask,
@@ -296,6 +300,7 @@ export function useAIChatController(): AIChatController {
         searchState?.open,
         messageContextRef,
         onOpen,
+        setState,
         onPostMessage,
     ]);
 
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChat.tsx b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChat.tsx
index 39e2d8042..df1e91e64 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChat.tsx
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChat.tsx
@@ -93,6 +93,15 @@ export function AIChatWindow(props: {
             block: 'start',
         });
 
+        const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+            if (lastUserMessageRef.current) {
+                lastUserMessageRef.current.scrollIntoView({
+                    behavior: 'smooth',
+                    block: 'start',
+                });
+            }
+        }, 100);
+
         // We want the chat messages to scroll underneath the input, but they should scroll past the input when scrolling all the way down.
         // The best way to do this is to observe the input height and adjust the padding bottom of the scroll container accordingly.
         const observer = new ResizeObserver((entries) => {
@@ -103,7 +112,10 @@ export function AIChatWindow(props: {
         if (inputRef.current) {
             observer.observe(inputRef.current);
         }
-        return () => observer.disconnect();
+        return () => {
+            observer.disconnect();
+            clearTimeout(timeout);
+        };
     }, []);
 
     return (
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChatInput.tsx b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChatInput.tsx
index 8afeb30bb..7df985fc7 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChatInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/components/AIChat/AIChatInput.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export function AIChatInput(props: {
             // This fixes inconsistent focus behaviour across browsers
             const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
                 inputRef.current?.focus();
-            }, 50);
+            }, 150);
 
             return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
         }
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/components/Search/SearchContainer.tsx b/packages/gitbook/src/components/Search/SearchContainer.tsx
index bf08699b7..d740e6b08 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/components/Search/SearchContainer.tsx
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/components/Search/SearchContainer.tsx
@@ -54,10 +54,12 @@ export function SearchContainer(props: SearchContainerProps) {
 
     const onClose = React.useCallback(
         async (to?: string) => {
-            if (state?.query === '') {
-                await setSearchState(null);
-            } else if (state) {
-                await setSearchState({ ...state, open: false });
+            if (state) {
+                await setSearchState({
+                    ...state,
+                    open: false,
+                    query: state.query === '' ? null : state.query,
+                });
             }
 
             if (to) {
@@ -131,6 +133,8 @@ export function SearchContainer(props: SearchContainerProps) {
     const normalizedQuery = state?.query?.trim() ?? '';
     const normalizedAsk = state?.ask?.trim() ?? '';
 
+    const showAsk = aiMode === CustomizationAIMode.Search && normalizedAsk;
+
     return (
         <SearchAskProvider value={searchAsk}>
             <Popover
@@ -138,10 +142,10 @@ export function SearchContainer(props: SearchContainerProps) {
                     // Only show content if there's a query or Ask is enabled
                     (state?.query || aiMode !== CustomizationAIMode.None) && open ? (
                         <React.Suspense fallback={null}>
-                            {isMultiVariants && !state?.ask ? (
+                            {isMultiVariants && !showAsk ? (
                                 <SearchScopeToggle spaceTitle={spaceTitle} />
                             ) : null}
-                            {state !== null && !state.ask ? (
+                            {state !== null && !showAsk ? (
                                 <SearchResults
                                     ref={resultsRef}
                                     query={normalizedQuery}
@@ -150,7 +154,7 @@ export function SearchContainer(props: SearchContainerProps) {
                                     spaceId={spaceId}
                                 />
                             ) : null}
-                            {normalizedAsk ? <SearchAskAnswer query={normalizedAsk} /> : null}
+                            {showAsk ? <SearchAskAnswer query={normalizedAsk} /> : null}
                         </React.Suspense>
                     ) : null
                 }
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/de.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/de.ts
index 865f601f8..09175cca8 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/de.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/de.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export const de = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Von der Website bereitgestellte Informationen',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Vorherige Nachrichten',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'KI-Antworten können Fehler enthalten.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Fragen, suchen oder Aktion ausführen...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Fragen, suchen oder erklären...',
     send: 'Senden',
     actions: 'Aktionen',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Vorgeschlagene Fragen',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/en.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/en.ts
index 00c3cbb71..c93508783 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/en.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/en.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export const en = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Info provided by the site',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Previous messages',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'AI responses may contain mistakes.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Ask, search, or take action...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Ask, search, or explain...',
     send: 'Send',
     actions: 'Actions',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Suggested questions',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/es.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/es.ts
index 521b9d594..8a4cfc862 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/es.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/es.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export const es: TranslationLanguage = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Información proporcionada por el sitio',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Mensajes anteriores',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'Las respuestas de IA pueden contener errores.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Pregunta, busca o realiza una acción...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Pregunta, busca o explica...',
     send: 'Enviar',
     actions: 'Acciones',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Preguntas sugeridas',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/fr.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/fr.ts
index e6a27b0d2..3c16134b0 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/fr.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/fr.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export const fr = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Informations fournies par le site',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Messages précédents',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'Les réponses générées peuvent contenir des erreurs.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Rechercher…',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Demander, rechercher ou expliquer...',
     send: 'Envoyer',
     actions: 'Actions',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Suggestions de questions',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/ja.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/ja.ts
index 105c757c7..a20ecd824 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/ja.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/ja.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export const ja: TranslationLanguage = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'サイトから提供された情報',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: '以前のメッセージ',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'AIの回答には誤りが含まれる場合があります。',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: '質問、検索、またはアクションを実行...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: '質問、検索、または説明...',
     send: '送信',
     actions: 'アクション',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'おすすめの質問',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/nl.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/nl.ts
index e269d1b19..4402ce69b 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/nl.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/nl.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export const nl: TranslationLanguage = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Informatie verstrekt door de site',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Vorige berichten',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'AI-antwoorden kunnen fouten bevatten.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Vraag, zoek of voer een actie uit...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Vraag, zoek of leg uit...',
     send: 'Versturen',
     actions: 'Acties',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Voorgestelde vragen',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/no.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/no.ts
index e10c41194..1b5107552 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/no.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/no.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export const no: TranslationLanguage = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Informasjon gitt av nettstedet',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Tidligere meldinger',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'AI-svar kan inneholde feil.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Spør, søk eller utfør en handling...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Spør, søk eller forklar...',
     send: 'Send',
     actions: 'Handlinger',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Foreslåtte spørsmål',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/pt-br.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/pt-br.ts
index f38285810..0dea9c55e 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/pt-br.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/pt-br.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export const pt_br = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: 'Informações fornecidas pelo site',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: 'Mensagens anteriores',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: 'Respostas de IA podem conter erros.',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Pergunte, pesquise ou execute uma ação...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: 'Pergunte, pesquise ou explique...',
     send: 'Enviar',
     actions: 'Ações',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: 'Perguntas sugeridas',
diff --git a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/zh.ts b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/zh.ts
index 253f6d38f..d08be50b0 100644
--- a/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/zh.ts
+++ b/packages/gitbook/src/intl/translations/zh.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export const zh: TranslationLanguage = {
     ai_chat_context_info_provided_by_the_site: '网站提供的信息',
     ai_chat_context_previous_messages: '之前的消息',
     ai_chat_context_disclaimer: '人工智能的回答可能包含错误。',
-    ai_chat_input_placeholder: '询问、搜索或执行操作...',
+    ai_chat_input_placeholder: '询问、搜索或解释...',
     send: '发送',
     actions: '操作',
     ai_chat_suggested_questions_title: '建议的问题',