diff --git a/frontend/components/chat/chat-input.tsx b/frontend/components/chat/chat-input.tsx
index f43bca8..e8abb01 100644
--- a/frontend/components/chat/chat-input.tsx
+++ b/frontend/components/chat/chat-input.tsx
@@ -1,78 +1,31 @@
 "use client";
 
 import type { ChatStatus } from "ai";
-import {
-  ArrowUp,
-  Building2,
-  CalendarRange,
-  ChevronDown,
-  Hand,
-  Mic,
-  Plus,
-  Square,
-  Stethoscope,
-  UserPlus,
-  X,
-} from "lucide-react";
+import { ArrowUp, Mic, Plus, Square, UserPlus, X } from "lucide-react";
 import {
   type ChangeEvent,
   type KeyboardEvent,
-  type ReactNode,
   useCallback,
-  useMemo,
   useRef,
   useState,
 } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 
+import { ModelPicker } from "@/components/chat/model-picker";
 import { PatientFormDialog } from "@/components/chat/patient-form-dialog";
-import {
-  Menu,
-  MenuPopup,
-  MenuRadioGroup,
-  MenuRadioItem,
-  MenuTrigger,
-} from "@/components/ui/menu";
+import type { Effort } from "@/lib/ai-models";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
 type ChatInputProps = {
   onSubmit: (text: string) => void;
   status: ChatStatus;
   onStop?: () => void;
+  model: string;
+  effort: Effort;
+  onModelChange: (model: string) => void;
+  onEffortChange: (effort: Effort) => void;
 };
 
-type Option = { value: string; label: string };
-type OptionKey = { value: string; labelKey: string };
-
-const ACCESS_OPTIONS: OptionKey[] = [
-  { value: "standard", labelKey: "chat.input.access.standard" },
-  { value: "break-glass", labelKey: "chat.input.access.breakGlass" },
-  { value: "read-only", labelKey: "chat.input.access.readOnly" },
-];
-const RESPONSE_OPTIONS: OptionKey[] = [
-  { value: "concise", labelKey: "chat.input.response.concise" },
-  { value: "detailed", labelKey: "chat.input.response.detailed" },
-  { value: "comprehensive", labelKey: "chat.input.response.comprehensive" },
-];
-const SPECIALTY_OPTIONS: OptionKey[] = [
-  { value: "internal-medicine", labelKey: "chat.input.specialtyOptions.internalMedicine" },
-  { value: "cardiology", labelKey: "chat.input.specialtyOptions.cardiology" },
-  { value: "pediatrics", labelKey: "chat.input.specialtyOptions.pediatrics" },
-  { value: "emergency", labelKey: "chat.input.specialtyOptions.emergency" },
-  { value: "all", labelKey: "chat.input.specialtyOptions.all" },
-];
-const FACILITY_OPTIONS: OptionKey[] = [
-  { value: "main-hospital", labelKey: "chat.input.facilityOptions.mainHospital" },
-  { value: "north-clinic", labelKey: "chat.input.facilityOptions.northClinic" },
-  { value: "telehealth", labelKey: "chat.input.facilityOptions.telehealth" },
-];
-const TIME_OPTIONS: OptionKey[] = [
-  { value: "30d", labelKey: "chat.input.timeOptions.30d" },
-  { value: "12m", labelKey: "chat.input.timeOptions.12m" },
-  { value: "5y", labelKey: "chat.input.timeOptions.5y" },
-  { value: "all", labelKey: "chat.input.timeOptions.all" },
-];
-
 const iconButton =
   "flex size-8 items-center justify-center rounded-lg text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground";
 const pillButton =
@@ -80,79 +33,19 @@ const pillButton =
 const contextPill =
   "flex h-7 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md px-2 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-foreground/5 hover:text-foreground";
 
-function SelectPill({
-  ariaLabel,
-  triggerClassName,
-  chevronClassName,
-  icon,
-  prefix,
-  value,
-  onValueChange,
-  options,
-  align = "start",
-}: {
-  ariaLabel: string;
-  triggerClassName: string;
-  chevronClassName: string;
-  icon: ReactNode;
-  prefix?: string;
-  value: string;
-  onValueChange: (value: string) => void;
-  options: Option[];
-  align?: "start" | "center" | "end";
-}) {
-  const selected = options.find((option) => option.value === value);
-
-  return (
-    <Menu>
-      <MenuTrigger
-        render={
-          <button aria-label={ariaLabel} className={triggerClassName} type="button" />
-        }
-      >
-        {icon}
-        {prefix ? (
-          <span className="font-medium text-foreground">{prefix}</span>
-        ) : null}
-        <span className="truncate">{selected?.label}</span>
-        <ChevronDown className={chevronClassName} />
-      </MenuTrigger>
-      <MenuPopup align={align}>
-        <MenuRadioGroup onValueChange={onValueChange} value={value}>
-          {options.map((option) => (
-            <MenuRadioItem key={option.value} value={option.value}>
-              {option.label}
-            </MenuRadioItem>
-          ))}
-        </MenuRadioGroup>
-      </MenuPopup>
-    </Menu>
-  );
-}
-
-export function ChatInput({ onSubmit, status, onStop }: ChatInputProps) {
+export function ChatInput({
+  onSubmit,
+  status,
+  onStop,
+  model,
+  effort,
+  onModelChange,
+  onEffortChange,
+}: ChatInputProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const toOptions = useCallback(
-    (opts: OptionKey[]): Option[] =>
-      opts.map((o) => ({ value: o.value, label: t(o.labelKey) })),
-    [t],
-  );
-  const accessOptions = useMemo(() => toOptions(ACCESS_OPTIONS), [toOptions]);
-  const responseOptions = useMemo(() => toOptions(RESPONSE_OPTIONS), [toOptions]);
-  const specialtyOptions = useMemo(
-    () => toOptions(SPECIALTY_OPTIONS),
-    [toOptions],
-  );
-  const facilityOptions = useMemo(() => toOptions(FACILITY_OPTIONS), [toOptions]);
-  const timeOptions = useMemo(() => toOptions(TIME_OPTIONS), [toOptions]);
 
   const [value, setValue] = useState("");
   const [files, setFiles] = useState<File[]>([]);
-  const [access, setAccess] = useState("standard");
-  const [responseMode, setResponseMode] = useState("detailed");
-  const [specialty, setSpecialty] = useState("internal-medicine");
-  const [facility, setFacility] = useState("main-hospital");
-  const [timeRange, setTimeRange] = useState("12m");
   const [addOpen, setAddOpen] = useState(false);
   // Bumped on each open so the dialog remounts with a fresh file number + form.
   const [addKey, setAddKey] = useState(0);
@@ -216,10 +109,10 @@ export function ChatInput({ onSubmit, status, onStop }: ChatInputProps) {
         event.preventDefault();
         submit();
       }}
-      className="w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[28px] border border-border/60 bg-muted shadow-sm"
+      className="w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[28px] border border-border/60 bg-input shadow-sm"
     >
-      {/* Top (lighter) card: textarea + toolbar, with a slightly smaller bottom radius */}
-      <div className="rounded-b-[22px] bg-input">
+      {/* Textarea + toolbar, filling the rounded card. */}
+      <div className="bg-input">
         <textarea
           aria-label={t("chat.input.message")}
           className="field-sizing-content block max-h-48 min-h-16 w-full resize-none bg-transparent px-5 pt-5 pb-2 text-base text-foreground outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
@@ -270,28 +163,26 @@ export function ChatInput({ onSubmit, status, onStop }: ChatInputProps) {
             >
               <Plus className="size-[18px]" />
             </button>
-            <SelectPill
-              ariaLabel={t("chat.input.accessLevel")}
-              chevronClassName="size-4 opacity-70"
-              icon={<Hand className="size-4" />}
-              onValueChange={setAccess}
-              options={accessOptions}
-              triggerClassName={pillButton}
-              value={access}
-            />
+            <button
+              className={cn(contextPill, "ml-0.5")}
+              onClick={() => {
+                setAddKey((k) => k + 1);
+                setAddOpen(true);
+              }}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <UserPlus className="size-4" />
+              <span>{t("chat.input.addPatient")}</span>
+            </button>
           </div>
 
           <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1">
-            <SelectPill
-              align="end"
-              ariaLabel={t("chat.input.responseMode")}
-              chevronClassName="size-4 opacity-70"
-              icon={null}
-              onValueChange={setResponseMode}
-              options={responseOptions}
-              prefix={t("chat.input.clinical")}
+            <ModelPicker
+              effort={effort}
+              model={model}
+              onEffortChange={onEffortChange}
+              onModelChange={onModelChange}
               triggerClassName={cn(pillButton, "mr-1")}
-              value={responseMode}
             />
             <button
               aria-label={t("chat.input.dictate")}
@@ -321,48 +212,6 @@ export function ChatInput({ onSubmit, status, onStop }: ChatInputProps) {
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
-
-      {/* Bottom (darker) card peeking out below, more rounded: context selectors */}
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1 px-3 pt-2.5 pb-3">
-        <SelectPill
-          ariaLabel={t("chat.input.specialty")}
-          chevronClassName="size-3.5 opacity-70"
-          icon={<Stethoscope className="size-4" />}
-          onValueChange={setSpecialty}
-          options={specialtyOptions}
-          triggerClassName={contextPill}
-          value={specialty}
-        />
-        <SelectPill
-          ariaLabel={t("chat.input.facility")}
-          chevronClassName="size-3.5 opacity-70"
-          icon={<Building2 className="size-4" />}
-          onValueChange={setFacility}
-          options={facilityOptions}
-          triggerClassName={contextPill}
-          value={facility}
-        />
-        <SelectPill
-          ariaLabel={t("chat.input.timeRange")}
-          chevronClassName="size-3.5 opacity-70"
-          icon={<CalendarRange className="size-4" />}
-          onValueChange={setTimeRange}
-          options={timeOptions}
-          triggerClassName={contextPill}
-          value={timeRange}
-        />
-        <button
-          className={cn(contextPill, "ml-auto")}
-          onClick={() => {
-            setAddKey((k) => k + 1);
-            setAddOpen(true);
-          }}
-          type="button"
-        >
-          <UserPlus className="size-4" />
-          <span>{t("chat.input.addPatient")}</span>
-        </button>
-      </div>
     </form>
 
     <PatientFormDialog
diff --git a/frontend/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx b/frontend/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
index dc201e2..91e6928 100644
--- a/frontend/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/components/ai-elements/message";
 import { ChatInput } from "@/components/chat/chat-input";
 import { PatientResult } from "@/components/chat/patient-cards";
+import { DEFAULT_EFFORT, DEFAULT_MODEL_ID, type Effort } from "@/lib/ai-models";
 import { getPatient, type Patient } from "@/lib/patients";
 
 type ChatMessage =
@@ -39,6 +40,10 @@ export function ChatPanel() {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const [messages, setMessages] = useState<ChatMessage[]>([]);
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<ChatStatus>("ready");
+  // Model + effort selected in the input; travels with each send (wired to the
+  // backend agent in a later phase). Defaults come from the shared catalog.
+  const [model, setModel] = useState<string>(DEFAULT_MODEL_ID);
+  const [effort, setEffort] = useState<Effort>(DEFAULT_EFFORT);
 
   const send = useCallback(async (text: string) => {
     const trimmed = text.trim();
@@ -127,7 +132,15 @@ export function ChatPanel() {
   }, [requestedPatient, send]);
 
   const promptInput = (
-    <ChatInput onStop={handleStop} onSubmit={send} status={status} />
+    <ChatInput
+      effort={effort}
+      model={model}
+      onEffortChange={setEffort}
+      onModelChange={setModel}
+      onStop={handleStop}
+      onSubmit={send}
+      status={status}
+    />
   );
 
   if (messages.length === 0) {
diff --git a/frontend/components/chat/model-picker.tsx b/frontend/components/chat/model-picker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47a3be6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/components/chat/model-picker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { ChevronDown } from "lucide-react";
+import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+
+import {
+  Menu,
+  MenuPopup,
+  MenuRadioGroup,
+  MenuRadioItem,
+  MenuSeparator,
+  MenuSub,
+  MenuSubPopup,
+  MenuSubTrigger,
+  MenuTrigger,
+} from "@/components/ui/menu";
+import {
+  type AiModel,
+  type Effort,
+  EFFORT_LEVELS,
+  getModel,
+  MORE_MODELS,
+  PRIMARY_MODELS,
+} from "@/lib/ai-models";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+
+type ModelPickerProps = {
+  model: string;
+  effort: Effort;
+  onModelChange: (model: string) => void;
+  onEffortChange: (effort: Effort) => void;
+  triggerClassName: string;
+};
+
+function ModelRow({ model }: { model: AiModel }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-col">
+      <span className="text-foreground">{model.label}</span>
+      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        {t(model.descriptionKey)}
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * The single model + effort control in the chat input, styled like the
+ * reference design: a list of primary models, an Effort submenu, and a
+ * "More models" submenu. Selection is owned by the chat panel so it travels
+ * with each send.
+ */
+export function ModelPicker({
+  model,
+  effort,
+  onModelChange,
+  onEffortChange,
+  triggerClassName,
+}: ModelPickerProps) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const selected = getModel(model);
+  const showEffort = selected?.supportsEffort ?? false;
+
+  return (
+    <Menu>
+      <MenuTrigger
+        render={
+          <button
+            aria-label={t("chat.input.model")}
+            className={triggerClassName}
+            type="button"
+          />
+        }
+      >
+        <span className="truncate font-medium text-foreground">
+          {selected?.label ?? t("chat.input.model")}
+        </span>
+        {showEffort ? (
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground">
+            {t(`chat.input.effortOptions.${effort}`)}
+          </span>
+        ) : null}
+        <ChevronDown className="size-4 opacity-70" />
+      </MenuTrigger>
+      <MenuPopup align="end" className="min-w-64">
+        <MenuRadioGroup onValueChange={onModelChange} value={model}>
+          {PRIMARY_MODELS.map((m) => (
+            <MenuRadioItem key={m.id} value={m.id}>
+              <ModelRow model={m} />
+            </MenuRadioItem>
+          ))}
+        </MenuRadioGroup>
+
+        <MenuSeparator />
+
+        {showEffort ? (
+          <MenuSub>
+            <MenuSubTrigger>
+              <span>{t("chat.input.effort")}</span>
+              <span className="ms-auto text-muted-foreground">
+                {t(`chat.input.effortOptions.${effort}`)}
+              </span>
+            </MenuSubTrigger>
+            <MenuSubPopup>
+              <MenuRadioGroup
+                onValueChange={(value) => onEffortChange(value as Effort)}
+                value={effort}
+              >
+                {EFFORT_LEVELS.map((level) => (
+                  <MenuRadioItem key={level} value={level}>
+                    {t(`chat.input.effortOptions.${level}`)}
+                  </MenuRadioItem>
+                ))}
+              </MenuRadioGroup>
+            </MenuSubPopup>
+          </MenuSub>
+        ) : null}
+
+        <MenuSub>
+          <MenuSubTrigger>{t("chat.input.moreModels")}</MenuSubTrigger>
+          <MenuSubPopup className={cn("min-w-60")}>
+            <MenuRadioGroup onValueChange={onModelChange} value={model}>
+              {MORE_MODELS.map((m) => (
+                <MenuRadioItem key={m.id} value={m.id}>
+                  <ModelRow model={m} />
+                </MenuRadioItem>
+              ))}
+            </MenuRadioGroup>
+          </MenuSubPopup>
+        </MenuSub>
+      </MenuPopup>
+    </Menu>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/lib/ai-models.ts b/frontend/lib/ai-models.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc5e438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/lib/ai-models.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// Catalog of models the chat can run, shared by the chat-input model picker,
+// the Settings → AI panel, and the chat→backend wiring. The actual provider
+// call is made by the backend (`backend/src/services/ai/provider.ts`); here we
+// only describe the menu of choices. `id` is the provider's model id sent to
+// the backend; `descriptionKey` is an i18n key under `chat.input.models.*`.
+
+export type Effort = "low" | "medium" | "high";
+
+export const EFFORT_LEVELS: Effort[] = ["low", "medium", "high"];
+export const DEFAULT_EFFORT: Effort = "medium";
+
+// The three supported cloud providers (API key) plus local Ollama.
+export type AiProvider = "anthropic" | "openai" | "gemini" | "ollama";
+
+export type AiModel = {
+  /** Provider model id passed to the backend. */
+  id: string;
+  provider: AiProvider;
+  /** Short display name shown in the picker trigger. */
+  label: string;
+  /** i18n key for the one-line description under the label. */
+  descriptionKey: string;
+  /** Shown directly in the model list; non-primary live under "More models". */
+  primary?: boolean;
+  /** Whether the Effort control applies to this model. */
+  supportsEffort?: boolean;
+};
+
+// Curated catalog. Cloud model ids are best-effort current ids and can be
+// adjusted without touching the UI. Ollama is a stand-in for "your local model"
+// — the concrete tag is configured in Settings → AI.
+export const AI_MODELS: AiModel[] = [
+  {
+    id: "claude-opus-4-8",
+    provider: "anthropic",
+    label: "Opus 4.8",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.opus48",
+    primary: true,
+    supportsEffort: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "claude-sonnet-4-6",
+    provider: "anthropic",
+    label: "Sonnet 4.6",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.sonnet46",
+    primary: true,
+    supportsEffort: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "claude-haiku-4-5",
+    provider: "anthropic",
+    label: "Haiku 4.5",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.haiku45",
+    primary: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "gpt-4o",
+    provider: "openai",
+    label: "GPT-4o",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.gpt4o",
+    supportsEffort: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "gpt-4o-mini",
+    provider: "openai",
+    label: "GPT-4o mini",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.gpt4oMini",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "gemini-2.0-flash",
+    provider: "gemini",
+    label: "Gemini 2.0 Flash",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.gemini20Flash",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "gemini-1.5-pro",
+    provider: "gemini",
+    label: "Gemini 1.5 Pro",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.gemini15Pro",
+    supportsEffort: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "ollama",
+    provider: "ollama",
+    label: "Local (Ollama)",
+    descriptionKey: "chat.input.models.ollama",
+  },
+];
+
+export const DEFAULT_MODEL_ID = AI_MODELS[0].id;
+
+export function getModel(id: string): AiModel | undefined {
+  return AI_MODELS.find((m) => m.id === id);
+}
+
+export const PRIMARY_MODELS = AI_MODELS.filter((m) => m.primary);
+export const MORE_MODELS = AI_MODELS.filter((m) => !m.primary);
diff --git a/frontend/lib/i18n/locales/en/translation.json b/frontend/lib/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
index 7cd46a3..ca92aa4 100644
--- a/frontend/lib/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/frontend/lib/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -616,45 +616,29 @@
       "placeholder": "Look up a patient — try /patient 10293",
       "message": "Message",
       "addPatient": "Add patient",
-      "clinical": "Clinical",
       "attachFile": "Attach file",
       "attachFiles": "Attach files",
       "removeFile": "Remove {{name}}",
       "dictate": "Dictate",
       "send": "Send",
       "stop": "Stop",
-      "accessLevel": "Access level",
-      "responseMode": "Response mode",
-      "specialty": "Specialty",
-      "facility": "Facility",
-      "timeRange": "Time range",
-      "access": {
-        "standard": "Standard access",
-        "breakGlass": "Break-glass (emergency)",
-        "readOnly": "Read-only"
+      "model": "Model",
+      "moreModels": "More models",
+      "effort": "Effort",
+      "effortOptions": {
+        "low": "Low",
+        "medium": "Medium",
+        "high": "High"
       },
-      "response": {
-        "concise": "Concise",
-        "detailed": "Detailed",
-        "comprehensive": "Comprehensive"
-      },
-      "specialtyOptions": {
-        "internalMedicine": "Internal Medicine",
-        "cardiology": "Cardiology",
-        "pediatrics": "Pediatrics",
-        "emergency": "Emergency",
-        "all": "All specialties"
-      },
-      "facilityOptions": {
-        "mainHospital": "Main Hospital",
-        "northClinic": "North Clinic",
-        "telehealth": "Telehealth"
-      },
-      "timeOptions": {
-        "30d": "Last 30 days",
-        "12m": "Last 12 months",
-        "5y": "Last 5 years",
-        "all": "All time"
+      "models": {
+        "opus48": "For complex clinical reasoning",
+        "sonnet46": "Balanced for everyday tasks",
+        "haiku45": "Fastest for quick answers",
+        "gpt4o": "OpenAI multimodal flagship",
+        "gpt4oMini": "Fast, low-cost OpenAI model",
+        "gemini20Flash": "Fast Google model",
+        "gemini15Pro": "Google long-context model",
+        "ollama": "Runs locally on your infrastructure"
       }
     }
   },
@@ -662,7 +646,10 @@
     "notFound": "No patient found for file #{{number}}.",
     "overview": "Overview",
     "edit": "Edit",
-    "sex": { "F": "Female", "M": "Male" },
+    "sex": {
+      "F": "Female",
+      "M": "Male"
+    },
     "summary": {
       "fullName": "Full name",
       "mrn": "MRN",