diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..df26fc79547
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { AIChatBanner } from '@/ai/components/AIChatBanner';
+import { t } from '@lingui/core/macro';
+import { IconExternalLink } from 'twenty-ui/display';
+
+const DOCS_URL =
+  'https://twenty.com/developers/section/self-hosting/self-hosting-var#ai-features';
+
+export const AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage = () => {
+  const handleDocsClick = () => {
+    window.open(DOCS_URL, '_blank', 'noopener,noreferrer');
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <AIChatBanner
+      message={t`AI not configured. Set OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or XAI_API_KEY in your environment.`}
+      variant="warning"
+      buttonTitle={t`View Docs`}
+      buttonIcon={IconExternalLink}
+      buttonOnClick={handleDocsClick}
+    />
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatBanner.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatBanner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dce8ea73e4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatBanner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import styled from '@emotion/styled';
+import { isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
+import {
+  AppTooltip,
+  type IconComponent,
+  IconAlertTriangle,
+  IconInfoCircle,
+} from 'twenty-ui/display';
+import { Button } from 'twenty-ui/input';
+
+type AIChatBannerVariant = 'default' | 'warning';
+
+const StyledBanner = styled.div<{ variant: AIChatBannerVariant }>`
+  align-items: center;
+  background-color: ${({ theme, variant }) =>
+    variant === 'warning'
+      ? theme.background.transparent.orange
+      : theme.accent.secondary};
+  border-radius: ${({ theme }) => theme.border.radius.md};
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  display: flex;
+  gap: ${({ theme }) => theme.spacing(2)};
+  padding: ${({ theme }) => theme.spacing(2)};
+  width: 100%;
+`;
+
+const StyledIconContainer = styled.div<{ variant: AIChatBannerVariant }>`
+  align-items: center;
+  color: ${({ theme, variant }) =>
+    variant === 'warning' ? theme.color.orange : theme.color.blue};
+  display: flex;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  height: 16px;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 16px;
+`;
+
+const StyledMessage = styled.p<{ variant: AIChatBannerVariant }>`
+  color: ${({ theme, variant }) =>
+    variant === 'warning' ? theme.color.orange : theme.color.blue};
+  flex-grow: 1;
+  font-family: ${({ theme }) => theme.font.family};
+  font-size: ${({ theme }) => theme.font.size.sm};
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-weight: ${({ theme }) => theme.font.weight.medium};
+  line-height: 1.4;
+  margin: 0;
+  min-width: 0;
+`;
+
+export type AIChatBannerProps = {
+  message: string;
+  variant?: AIChatBannerVariant;
+  tooltipMessage?: string;
+  buttonTitle?: string;
+  buttonIcon?: IconComponent;
+  buttonOnClick?: () => void;
+  isButtonDisabled?: boolean;
+  isButtonLoading?: boolean;
+};
+
+export const AIChatBanner = ({
+  message,
+  variant = 'default',
+  tooltipMessage,
+  buttonTitle,
+  buttonIcon,
+  buttonOnClick,
+  isButtonDisabled = false,
+  isButtonLoading = false,
+}: AIChatBannerProps) => {
+  const tooltipId = 'ai-chat-banner-tooltip';
+
+  return (
+    <StyledBanner
+      variant={variant}
+      data-tooltip-id={tooltipMessage ? tooltipId : undefined}
+    >
+      <StyledIconContainer variant={variant}>
+        {variant === 'default' ? (
+          <IconInfoCircle size={16} />
+        ) : (
+          <IconAlertTriangle size={16} />
+        )}
+      </StyledIconContainer>
+      <StyledMessage variant={variant}>{message}</StyledMessage>
+      {isDefined(buttonTitle) && isDefined(buttonOnClick) && (
+        <Button
+          variant="secondary"
+          size="small"
+          Icon={buttonIcon}
+          onClick={buttonOnClick}
+          disabled={isButtonDisabled || isButtonLoading}
+          title={buttonTitle}
+        />
+      )}
+      {isDefined(tooltipMessage) && (
+        <AppTooltip
+          anchorSelect={`[data-tooltip-id='${tooltipId}']`}
+          content={tooltipMessage}
+          place="bottom"
+        />
+      )}
+    </StyledBanner>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c97e3b98468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { AIChatBanner } from '@/ai/components/AIChatBanner';
+import { useEndSubscriptionTrialPeriod } from '@/billing/hooks/useEndSubscriptionTrialPeriod';
+import { useRedirect } from '@/domain-manager/hooks/useRedirect';
+import { usePermissionFlagMap } from '@/settings/roles/hooks/usePermissionFlagMap';
+import { useSubscriptionStatus } from '@/workspace/hooks/useSubscriptionStatus';
+import { t } from '@lingui/core/macro';
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { SettingsPath } from 'twenty-shared/types';
+import { getSettingsPath, isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
+import { IconSparkles } from 'twenty-ui/display';
+import {
+  PermissionFlagType,
+  SubscriptionStatus,
+  useBillingPortalSessionQuery,
+} from '~/generated-metadata/graphql';
+
+export const AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage = () => {
+  const { redirect } = useRedirect();
+  const subscriptionStatus = useSubscriptionStatus();
+  const { endTrialPeriod, isLoading: isEndingTrial } =
+    useEndSubscriptionTrialPeriod();
+  const [isProcessing, setIsProcessing] = useState(false);
+
+  const isTrialing = subscriptionStatus === SubscriptionStatus.Trialing;
+
+  const { [PermissionFlagType.WORKSPACE]: hasPermissionToManageBilling } =
+    usePermissionFlagMap();
+
+  const { data: billingPortalData, loading: isBillingPortalLoading } =
+    useBillingPortalSessionQuery({
+      variables: {
+        returnUrlPath: getSettingsPath(SettingsPath.Billing),
+      },
+    });
+
+  const openBillingPortal = () => {
+    if (
+      isDefined(billingPortalData) &&
+      isDefined(billingPortalData.billingPortalSession.url)
+    ) {
+      redirect(billingPortalData.billingPortalSession.url);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleUpgradeClick = async () => {
+    if (!isTrialing) {
+      openBillingPortal();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setIsProcessing(true);
+    const result = await endTrialPeriod();
+    setIsProcessing(false);
+
+    // If no payment method, redirect to billing portal to add one
+    if (!result.success) {
+      openBillingPortal();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const isLoading = isEndingTrial || isBillingPortalLoading || isProcessing;
+
+  const message = hasPermissionToManageBilling
+    ? isTrialing
+      ? t`Free trial credits exhausted. Subscribe now to continue using AI features.`
+      : t`Credits exhausted. Upgrade your plan to get more credits.`
+    : t`Credits exhausted. Please contact your workspace admin to upgrade.`;
+
+  const buttonTitle = isTrialing ? t`Subscribe Now` : t`Upgrade Plan`;
+
+  return (
+    <AIChatBanner
+      message={message}
+      variant="warning"
+      buttonTitle={hasPermissionToManageBilling ? buttonTitle : undefined}
+      buttonIcon={IconSparkles}
+      buttonOnClick={
+        hasPermissionToManageBilling ? handleUpgradeClick : undefined
+      }
+      isButtonDisabled={isLoading}
+      isButtonLoading={isLoading}
+    />
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatErrorRenderer.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatErrorRenderer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..139d84de1a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatErrorRenderer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage } from '@/ai/components/AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage';
+import { AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage } from '@/ai/components/AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage';
+import { AIChatErrorMessage } from '@/ai/components/AIChatErrorMessage';
+import { isApiKeyNotConfiguredError } from '@/ai/utils/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError';
+import { isBillingCreditsExhaustedError } from '@/ai/utils/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError';
+
+type AIChatErrorRendererProps = {
+  error: Error;
+};
+
+export const AIChatErrorRenderer = ({ error }: AIChatErrorRendererProps) => {
+  if (isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(error)) {
+    return <AIChatCreditsExhaustedMessage />;
+  }
+
+  if (isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(error)) {
+    return <AIChatApiKeyNotConfiguredMessage />;
+  }
+
+  return <AIChatErrorMessage error={error} />;
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatMessage.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatMessage.tsx
index 32bac32251e..282703f3dd2 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatMessage.tsx
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatMessage.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { AgentChatFilePreview } from '@/ai/components/internal/AgentChatFilePrev
 import { AgentMessageRole } from '@/ai/constants/AgentMessageRole';
 
 import { AIChatAssistantMessageRenderer } from '@/ai/components/AIChatAssistantMessageRenderer';
-import { AIChatErrorMessage } from '@/ai/components/AIChatErrorMessage';
+import { AIChatErrorRenderer } from '@/ai/components/AIChatErrorRenderer';
 import { LightCopyIconButton } from '@/object-record/record-field/ui/components/LightCopyIconButton';
 import { type ExtendedUIMessage } from 'twenty-shared/ai';
 import { isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ export const AIChatMessage = ({
               ))}
             </StyledFilesContainer>
           )}
-          {showError && <AIChatErrorMessage error={error} />}
+          {showError && <AIChatErrorRenderer error={error} />}
           {message.parts.length > 0 && message.metadata?.createdAt && (
             <StyledMessageFooter className="message-footer">
               <span>
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatStandaloneError.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatStandaloneError.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3b10da24dc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatStandaloneError.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { useTheme } from '@emotion/react';
+import styled from '@emotion/styled';
+import { Avatar, IconSparkles } from 'twenty-ui/display';
+
+import { AIChatErrorRenderer } from '@/ai/components/AIChatErrorRenderer';
+
+const StyledErrorContainer = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: ${({ theme }) => theme.spacing(3)};
+  width: 100%;
+`;
+
+const StyledAvatarContainer = styled.div`
+  align-items: center;
+  background: ${({ theme }) => theme.background.transparent.blue};
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  height: 24px;
+  min-width: 24px;
+  border-radius: ${({ theme }) => theme.border.radius.sm};
+  padding: 1px;
+`;
+
+const StyledContent = styled.div`
+  min-width: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+`;
+
+type AIChatStandaloneErrorProps = {
+  error: Error;
+};
+
+export const AIChatStandaloneError = ({
+  error,
+}: AIChatStandaloneErrorProps) => {
+  const theme = useTheme();
+
+  return (
+    <StyledErrorContainer>
+      <StyledAvatarContainer>
+        <Avatar
+          size="sm"
+          placeholder="AI"
+          Icon={IconSparkles}
+          iconColor={theme.color.blue}
+        />
+      </StyledAvatarContainer>
+      <StyledContent>
+        <AIChatErrorRenderer error={error} />
+      </StyledContent>
+    </StyledErrorContainer>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatTab.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatTab.tsx
index 718343353d0..e5294d2bc36 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatTab.tsx
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/components/AIChatTab.tsx
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ import { useCommandMenu } from '@/command-menu/hooks/useCommandMenu';
 import { CommandMenuPages } from '@/command-menu/types/CommandMenuPages';
 import { ScrollWrapper } from '@/ui/utilities/scroll/components/ScrollWrapper';
 
+import { AgentMessageRole } from '@/ai/constants/AgentMessageRole';
 import { AIChatEmptyState } from '@/ai/components/AIChatEmptyState';
 import { AIChatMessage } from '@/ai/components/AIChatMessage';
+import { AIChatStandaloneError } from '@/ai/components/AIChatStandaloneError';
 import { AIChatContextUsageButton } from '@/ai/components/internal/AIChatContextUsageButton';
 import { AIChatSkeletonLoader } from '@/ai/components/internal/AIChatSkeletonLoader';
 import { AgentChatContextPreview } from '@/ai/components/internal/AgentChatContextPreview';
@@ -93,7 +95,9 @@ export const AIChatTab = () => {
               {messages.map((message, index) => {
                 const isLastMessage = index === messages.length - 1;
                 const isLastMessageStreaming = isStreaming && isLastMessage;
-                const shouldShowError = error && isLastMessage;
+                const isLastAssistantMessage =
+                  isLastMessage && message.role === AgentMessageRole.ASSISTANT;
+                const shouldShowError = error && isLastAssistantMessage;
 
                 return (
                   <AIChatMessage
@@ -104,9 +108,17 @@ export const AIChatTab = () => {
                   />
                 );
               })}
+              {error &&
+                !isStreaming &&
+                messages.at(-1)?.role === AgentMessageRole.USER && (
+                  <AIChatStandaloneError error={error} />
+                )}
             </StyledScrollWrapper>
           )}
-          {messages.length === 0 && <AIChatEmptyState />}
+          {messages.length === 0 && !error && <AIChatEmptyState />}
+          {messages.length === 0 && error && !isLoading && (
+            <AIChatStandaloneError error={error} />
+          )}
           {isLoading && messages.length === 0 && <AIChatSkeletonLoader />}
 
           <StyledInputArea>
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/hooks/useAgentChat.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/hooks/useAgentChat.ts
index 3df36fc9020..105abc3c0a2 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/hooks/useAgentChat.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/hooks/useAgentChat.ts
@@ -89,13 +89,27 @@ export const useAgentChat = (uiMessages: ExtendedUIMessage[]) => {
       fetch: async (input, init) => {
         const response = await fetch(input, init);
 
-        if (response.status !== 401) {
-          return response;
+        if (response.status === 401) {
+          const retriedResponse = await retryFetchWithRenewedToken(input, init);
+
+          return retriedResponse ?? response;
         }
 
-        const retriedResponse = await retryFetchWithRenewedToken(input, init);
+        // For non-2xx responses, parse the error body and throw with the code
+        if (!response.ok) {
+          const errorBody = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+          const error = new Error(
+            errorBody.messages?.[0] ||
+              `Request failed with status ${response.status}`,
+          ) as Error & { code?: string };
 
-        return retriedResponse ?? response;
+          if (isDefined(errorBody.code)) {
+            error.code = errorBody.code;
+          }
+          throw error;
+        }
+
+        return response;
       },
     }),
     messages: uiMessages,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dc8af19d9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// Error codes matching backend AgentExceptionCode and BillingExceptionCode
+export const AIChatErrorCode = {
+  BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED: 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED',
+  API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED: 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED',
+} as const;
+
+export type AIChatErrorCodeType =
+  (typeof AIChatErrorCode)[keyof typeof AIChatErrorCode];
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/extractErrorCode.test.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/extractErrorCode.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6ac10d48daa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/extractErrorCode.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { extractErrorCode } from '@/ai/utils/extractErrorCode';
+
+describe('extractErrorCode', () => {
+  describe('direct error code', () => {
+    it('should extract code from error with direct code property', () => {
+      const error = { code: 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED', message: 'test' };
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBe('BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED');
+    });
+
+    it('should extract code from Error object with code property', () => {
+      const error = new Error('test') as Error & { code: string };
+      error.code = 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED';
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBe('API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('nested error structure', () => {
+    it('should extract code from nested error structure', () => {
+      const error = {
+        error: { code: 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED' },
+      };
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBe('BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED');
+    });
+
+    it('should extract code from deeply nested error structure', () => {
+      const error = {
+        data: {
+          error: { code: 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED' },
+        },
+      };
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBe('API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('invalid inputs', () => {
+    it('should return undefined for null', () => {
+      expect(extractErrorCode(null)).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for undefined', () => {
+      expect(extractErrorCode(undefined)).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for error without code', () => {
+      const error = { message: 'test error' };
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for error with non-string code', () => {
+      const error = { code: 123 };
+      expect(extractErrorCode(error)).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for string input', () => {
+      expect(extractErrorCode('error string')).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for number input', () => {
+      expect(extractErrorCode(42)).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for empty object', () => {
+      expect(extractErrorCode({})).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isAIChatErrorOfType.test.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isAIChatErrorOfType.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c64d5739e04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isAIChatErrorOfType.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { AIChatErrorCode } from '@/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode';
+import { isAIChatErrorOfType } from '@/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType';
+
+describe('isAIChatErrorOfType', () => {
+  describe('matching error codes', () => {
+    it('should return true when error code matches BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED', () => {
+      const error = new Error('test') as Error & { code: string };
+      error.code = 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED';
+
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED),
+      ).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return true when error code matches API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED', () => {
+      const error = new Error('test') as Error & { code: string };
+      error.code = 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED';
+
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED),
+      ).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('non-matching error codes', () => {
+    it('should return false when error code does not match', () => {
+      const error = new Error('test') as Error & { code: string };
+      error.code = 'SOME_OTHER_ERROR';
+
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED),
+      ).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false when error has no code', () => {
+      const error = new Error('test');
+
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED),
+      ).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('null and undefined handling', () => {
+    it('should return false for null error', () => {
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(null, AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED),
+      ).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false for undefined error', () => {
+      expect(
+        isAIChatErrorOfType(
+          undefined,
+          AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED,
+        ),
+      ).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.test.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7375bf172fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { isApiKeyNotConfiguredError } from '@/ai/utils/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError';
+
+describe('isApiKeyNotConfiguredError', () => {
+  it('should return true for API key not configured error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('API key not set') as Error & { code: string };
+    error.code = 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED';
+
+    expect(isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(error)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for billing credits exhausted error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('Credits exhausted') as Error & { code: string };
+    error.code = 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED';
+
+    expect(isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(error)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for generic error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('Something went wrong');
+
+    expect(isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(error)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for null', () => {
+    expect(isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for undefined', () => {
+    expect(isApiKeyNotConfiguredError(undefined)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.test.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2329c91e04b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { isBillingCreditsExhaustedError } from '@/ai/utils/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError';
+
+describe('isBillingCreditsExhaustedError', () => {
+  it('should return true for billing credits exhausted error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('Credits exhausted') as Error & { code: string };
+    error.code = 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED';
+
+    expect(isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(error)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for API key not configured error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('API key not set') as Error & { code: string };
+    error.code = 'API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED';
+
+    expect(isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(error)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for generic error', () => {
+    const error = new Error('Something went wrong');
+
+    expect(isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(error)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for null', () => {
+    expect(isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false for undefined', () => {
+    expect(isBillingCreditsExhaustedError(undefined)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/extractErrorCode.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/extractErrorCode.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d500de6be57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/extractErrorCode.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
+
+// Type guard for error objects with a code property
+const isErrorWithCode = (
+  error: unknown,
+): error is { code: string; message?: string } => {
+  return (
+    isDefined(error) &&
+    typeof error === 'object' &&
+    'code' in error &&
+    typeof (error as { code: unknown }).code === 'string'
+  );
+};
+
+// Type guard for nested error structures (e.g., { error: { code: '...' } })
+const isNestedErrorWithCode = (
+  error: unknown,
+): error is { error: { code: string } } => {
+  return (
+    isDefined(error) &&
+    typeof error === 'object' &&
+    'error' in error &&
+    isErrorWithCode((error as { error: unknown }).error)
+  );
+};
+
+// Type guard for deeply nested error structures (e.g., { data: { error: { code: '...' } } })
+const isDeepNestedErrorWithCode = (
+  error: unknown,
+): error is { data: { error: { code: string } } } => {
+  return (
+    isDefined(error) &&
+    typeof error === 'object' &&
+    'data' in error &&
+    isNestedErrorWithCode((error as { data: unknown }).data)
+  );
+};
+
+export const extractErrorCode = (error: unknown): string | undefined => {
+  if (isErrorWithCode(error)) {
+    return error.code;
+  }
+
+  if (isNestedErrorWithCode(error)) {
+    return error.error.code;
+  }
+
+  if (isDeepNestedErrorWithCode(error)) {
+    return error.data.error.code;
+  }
+
+  return undefined;
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a57a8714225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
+
+import { type AIChatErrorCodeType } from '@/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode';
+import { extractErrorCode } from '@/ai/utils/extractErrorCode';
+
+export const isAIChatErrorOfType = (
+  error: Error | null | undefined,
+  errorCode: AIChatErrorCodeType,
+): boolean => {
+  if (!isDefined(error)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return extractErrorCode(error) === errorCode;
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6ff60fa618e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isApiKeyNotConfiguredError.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { AIChatErrorCode } from '@/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode';
+import { isAIChatErrorOfType } from '@/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType';
+
+export const isApiKeyNotConfiguredError = (
+  error: Error | null | undefined,
+): boolean => {
+  return isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED);
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..11ed65d9f0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/isBillingCreditsExhaustedError.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { AIChatErrorCode } from '@/ai/utils/AIChatErrorCode';
+import { isAIChatErrorOfType } from '@/ai/utils/isAIChatErrorOfType';
+
+export const isBillingCreditsExhaustedError = (
+  error: Error | null | undefined,
+): boolean => {
+  return isAIChatErrorOfType(error, AIChatErrorCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED);
+};
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/information-banner/components/billing/InformationBannerEndTrialPeriod.tsx b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/information-banner/components/billing/InformationBannerEndTrialPeriod.tsx
index 7d8245686b5..16231a2e184 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/information-banner/components/billing/InformationBannerEndTrialPeriod.tsx
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/information-banner/components/billing/InformationBannerEndTrialPeriod.tsx
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ export const InformationBannerEndTrialPeriod = () => {
       variant="danger"
       message={
         hasPermissionToEndTrialPeriod
-          ? t`No free workflow executions left. End trial period and activate your billing to continue.`
-          : t`No free workflow executions left. Please contact your admin.`
+          ? t`End trial period to continue using Workflow or AI features.`
+          : t`Contact your admin to continue using Workflow or AI features.`
+      }
+      buttonTitle={
+        hasPermissionToEndTrialPeriod ? t`End Trial Period` : undefined
       }
-      buttonTitle={hasPermissionToEndTrialPeriod ? t`Activate` : undefined}
       buttonOnClick={async () => await endTrialPeriod()}
       isButtonDisabled={isLoading}
     />
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.exception.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.exception.ts
index 939f8bbc153..e20c7c81f93 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.exception.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.exception.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export enum BillingExceptionCode {
   BILLING_PRICE_INVALID = 'BILLING_PRICE_INVALID',
   BILLING_SUBSCRIPTION_PHASE_NOT_FOUND = 'BILLING_SUBSCRIPTION_PHASE_NOT_FOUND',
   BILLING_TOO_MUCH_SUBSCRIPTIONS_FOUND = 'BILLING_TOO_MUCH_SUBSCRIPTIONS_FOUND',
+  BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED = 'BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED',
 }
 
 const billingExceptionUserFriendlyMessages: Record<
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ const billingExceptionUserFriendlyMessages: Record<
   [BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_PRICE_INVALID]: msg`Invalid price.`,
   [BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_SUBSCRIPTION_PHASE_NOT_FOUND]: msg`Subscription phase not found.`,
   [BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_TOO_MUCH_SUBSCRIPTIONS_FOUND]: msg`Multiple subscriptions found where one was expected.`,
+  [BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED]: msg`You have exhausted your credits. Please upgrade your plan to continue.`,
 };
 
 export class BillingException extends CustomException<BillingExceptionCode> {
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/filters/billing-api-exception.filter.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/filters/billing-api-exception.filter.ts
index 2f69004229a..c416caeafc6 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/filters/billing-api-exception.filter.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/filters/billing-api-exception.filter.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ export class BillingRestApiExceptionFilter implements ExceptionFilter {
           response,
           400,
         );
+      case BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED:
+        return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
+          exception,
+          response,
+          402,
+        );
       default:
         return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
           exception,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing.service.ts
index 55925d6d462..42f826fbde2 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing.service.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 import { Injectable, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { InjectRepository } from '@nestjs/typeorm';
 
-import { isDefined } from 'class-validator';
-import { Repository } from 'typeorm';
+import { isDefined } from 'twenty-shared/utils';
+import { type Repository } from 'typeorm';
 
 import { BillingSubscriptionEntity } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/entities/billing-subscription.entity';
 import { type BillingEntitlementKey } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/enums/billing-entitlement-key.enum';
-import { BillingProductKey } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/enums/billing-product-key.enum';
+import { type BillingProductKey } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/enums/billing-product-key.enum';
 import { SubscriptionStatus } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/enums/billing-subscription-status.enum';
 import { BillingProductService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing-product.service';
 import { BillingSubscriptionService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing-subscription.service';
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/exception-handler/http-exception-handler.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/exception-handler/http-exception-handler.service.ts
index 69738355119..f064c582063 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/exception-handler/http-exception-handler.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/exception-handler/http-exception-handler.service.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ import {
   TwentyORMExceptionCode,
 } from 'src/engine/twenty-orm/exceptions/twenty-orm.exception';
 import { handleException } from 'src/engine/utils/global-exception-handler.util';
+import { CustomException } from 'src/utils/custom-exception';
 
 interface RequestAndParams {
   request: Request | null;
-  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-  params: any;
+  params: Record<string, string | undefined>;
 }
 
 const getErrorNameFromStatusCode = (statusCode: number) => {
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ const getErrorNameFromStatusCode = (statusCode: number) => {
       return 'BadRequestException';
     case 401:
       return 'UnauthorizedException';
+    case 402:
+      return 'PaymentRequiredException';
     case 403:
       return 'ForbiddenException';
     case 404:
@@ -66,13 +68,11 @@ export class HttpExceptionHandlerService {
 
   handleError = (
     exception: Error | HttpException,
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-    response: Response<any, Record<string, any>>,
+    response: Response,
     errorCode?: number,
     user?: ExceptionHandlerUser,
     workspace?: ExceptionHandlerWorkspace,
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-  ): Response<any, Record<string, any>> | undefined => {
+  ): Response | undefined => {
     const params = this.request?.params;
 
     if (params?.workspaceId) {
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ export class HttpExceptionHandlerService {
       statusCode,
       error: exception.name ?? getErrorNameFromStatusCode(statusCode),
       messages: [exception?.message],
+      code: exception instanceof CustomException ? exception.code : undefined,
     });
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/filters/agent-api-exception.filter.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/filters/agent-api-exception.filter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0e02a0989e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/filters/agent-api-exception.filter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import {
+  type ArgumentsHost,
+  Catch,
+  type ExceptionFilter,
+} from '@nestjs/common';
+
+import type { Response } from 'express';
+
+import { HttpExceptionHandlerService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/exception-handler/http-exception-handler.service';
+import {
+  AgentException,
+  AgentExceptionCode,
+} from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/agent.exception';
+
+@Catch(AgentException)
+export class AgentRestApiExceptionFilter implements ExceptionFilter {
+  constructor(
+    private readonly httpExceptionHandlerService: HttpExceptionHandlerService,
+  ) {}
+
+  catch(exception: AgentException, host: ArgumentsHost) {
+    const ctx = host.switchToHttp();
+    const response = ctx.getResponse<Response>();
+
+    switch (exception.code) {
+      case AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_NOT_FOUND:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.USER_WORKSPACE_ID_NOT_FOUND:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.ROLE_NOT_FOUND:
+        return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
+          exception,
+          response,
+          404,
+        );
+      case AgentExceptionCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED:
+        return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
+          exception,
+          response,
+          503, // Service Unavailable - the AI service is not configured
+        );
+      case AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_EXECUTION_FAILED:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.ROLE_CANNOT_BE_ASSIGNED_TO_AGENTS:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.INVALID_AGENT_INPUT:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_ALREADY_EXISTS:
+      case AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_IS_STANDARD:
+        return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
+          exception,
+          response,
+          400,
+        );
+      default:
+        return this.httpExceptionHandlerService.handleError(
+          exception,
+          response,
+          500,
+        );
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/ai-chat.module.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/ai-chat.module.ts
index aad174d5dab..ec5f6cedb39 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/ai-chat.module.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/ai-chat.module.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { TypeOrmModule } from '@nestjs/typeorm';
 
 import { TokenModule } from 'src/engine/core-modules/auth/token/token.module';
+import { BillingModule } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.module';
 import { WorkspaceDomainsModule } from 'src/engine/core-modules/domain/workspace-domains/workspace-domains.module';
 import { FeatureFlagModule } from 'src/engine/core-modules/feature-flag/feature-flag.module';
 import { FileEntity } from 'src/engine/core-modules/file/entities/file.entity';
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import { ChatExecutionService } from './services/chat-execution.service';
       UserWorkspaceEntity,
     ]),
     AiAgentExecutionModule,
+    BillingModule,
     ThrottlerModule,
     FeatureFlagModule,
     FileUploadModule,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/controllers/agent-chat.controller.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/controllers/agent-chat.controller.ts
index 60355ca2694..19bcbc10806 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/controllers/agent-chat.controller.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/controllers/agent-chat.controller.ts
@@ -7,26 +7,48 @@ import {
   UseGuards,
 } from '@nestjs/common';
 
-import { Response } from 'express';
-import { type ExtendedUIMessage } from 'twenty-shared/ai';
 import { PermissionFlagType } from 'twenty-shared/constants';
 
+import type { Response } from 'express';
+import type { ExtendedUIMessage } from 'twenty-shared/ai';
+
 import { RestApiExceptionFilter } from 'src/engine/api/rest/rest-api-exception.filter';
-import { type WorkspaceEntity } from 'src/engine/core-modules/workspace/workspace.entity';
+import {
+  BillingException,
+  BillingExceptionCode,
+} from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/billing.exception';
+import { BillingProductKey } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/enums/billing-product-key.enum';
+import { BillingRestApiExceptionFilter } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/filters/billing-api-exception.filter';
+import { BillingService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/billing/services/billing.service';
+import { TwentyConfigService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/twenty-config.service';
+import type { WorkspaceEntity } from 'src/engine/core-modules/workspace/workspace.entity';
 import { AuthUserWorkspaceId } from 'src/engine/decorators/auth/auth-user-workspace-id.decorator';
 import { AuthWorkspace } from 'src/engine/decorators/auth/auth-workspace.decorator';
 import { JwtAuthGuard } from 'src/engine/guards/jwt-auth.guard';
 import { SettingsPermissionGuard } from 'src/engine/guards/settings-permission.guard';
 import { WorkspaceAuthGuard } from 'src/engine/guards/workspace-auth.guard';
-import { type BrowsingContextType } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/types/browsingContext.type';
+import {
+  AgentException,
+  AgentExceptionCode,
+} from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/agent.exception';
+import { AgentRestApiExceptionFilter } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/filters/agent-api-exception.filter';
+import type { BrowsingContextType } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/types/browsingContext.type';
 import { AgentChatStreamingService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/agent-chat-streaming.service';
+import { AiModelRegistryService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service';
 
 @Controller('rest/agent-chat')
 @UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard, WorkspaceAuthGuard)
-@UseFilters(RestApiExceptionFilter)
+@UseFilters(
+  AgentRestApiExceptionFilter,
+  BillingRestApiExceptionFilter,
+  RestApiExceptionFilter,
+)
 export class AgentChatController {
   constructor(
     private readonly agentStreamingService: AgentChatStreamingService,
+    private readonly billingService: BillingService,
+    private readonly twentyConfigService: TwentyConfigService,
+    private readonly aiModelRegistryService: AiModelRegistryService,
   ) {}
 
   @Post('stream')
@@ -42,6 +64,29 @@ export class AgentChatController {
     @AuthWorkspace() workspace: WorkspaceEntity,
     @Res() response: Response,
   ) {
+    const availableModels = this.aiModelRegistryService.getAvailableModels();
+
+    if (availableModels.length === 0) {
+      throw new AgentException(
+        'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one AI provider API key (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or XAI_API_KEY).',
+        AgentExceptionCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED,
+      );
+    }
+
+    if (this.twentyConfigService.get('IS_BILLING_ENABLED')) {
+      const canBill = await this.billingService.canBillMeteredProduct(
+        workspace.id,
+        BillingProductKey.WORKFLOW_NODE_EXECUTION,
+      );
+
+      if (!canBill) {
+        throw new BillingException(
+          'Credits exhausted',
+          BillingExceptionCode.BILLING_CREDITS_EXHAUSTED,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
     this.agentStreamingService.streamAgentChat({
       threadId: body.threadId,
       messages: body.messages,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/constants/ai-models.const.spec.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/constants/ai-models.const.spec.ts
index daf1b407e76..1e74c18bd7a 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/constants/ai-models.const.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/constants/ai-models.const.spec.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe('AiModelRegistryService', () => {
     MOCK_CONFIG_SERVICE.get.mockReturnValue('gpt-4o');
 
     expect(() => SERVICE.getEffectiveModelConfig(DEFAULT_SMART_MODEL)).toThrow(
-      'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one provider.',
+      'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one AI provider API key (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or XAI_API_KEY).',
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service.ts
index e851beab9e4..cfc445e78fd 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import { xai } from '@ai-sdk/xai';
 import { type LanguageModel } from 'ai';
 
 import { TwentyConfigService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/twenty-config.service';
+import {
+  AgentException,
+  AgentExceptionCode,
+} from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/agent.exception';
 import {
   AI_MODELS,
   DEFAULT_FAST_MODEL,
@@ -164,6 +168,13 @@ export class AiModelRegistryService {
       model = availableModels[0];
     }
 
+    if (!model) {
+      throw new AgentException(
+        'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one AI provider API key (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or XAI_API_KEY).',
+        AgentExceptionCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED,
+      );
+    }
+
     return model;
   }
 
@@ -179,22 +190,24 @@ export class AiModelRegistryService {
       model = availableModels[0];
     }
 
+    if (!model) {
+      throw new AgentException(
+        'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one AI provider API key (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or XAI_API_KEY).',
+        AgentExceptionCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED,
+      );
+    }
+
     return model;
   }
 
   getEffectiveModelConfig(modelId: string): AIModelConfig {
     if (modelId === DEFAULT_FAST_MODEL || modelId === DEFAULT_SMART_MODEL) {
+      // getDefaultSpeedModel/getDefaultPerformanceModel will throw AgentException if no models available
       const defaultModel =
         modelId === DEFAULT_FAST_MODEL
           ? this.getDefaultSpeedModel()
           : this.getDefaultPerformanceModel();
 
-      if (!defaultModel) {
-        throw new Error(
-          'No AI models are available. Please configure at least one provider.',
-        );
-      }
-
       const modelConfig = AI_MODELS.find(
         (model) => model.modelId === defaultModel.modelId,
       );
@@ -220,7 +233,10 @@ export class AiModelRegistryService {
       return this.createDefaultConfigForCustomModel(registeredModel);
     }
 
-    throw new Error(`Model with ID ${modelId} not found`);
+    throw new AgentException(
+      `Model with ID ${modelId} not found`,
+      AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_EXECUTION_FAILED,
+    );
   }
 
   private createDefaultConfigForCustomModel(
@@ -252,7 +268,10 @@ export class AiModelRegistryService {
     const registeredModel = this.getModel(aiModel.modelId);
 
     if (!registeredModel) {
-      throw new Error(`Model ${aiModel.modelId} not found in registry`);
+      throw new AgentException(
+        `Model ${aiModel.modelId} not found in registry`,
+        AgentExceptionCode.AGENT_EXECUTION_FAILED,
+      );
     }
 
     return registeredModel;
@@ -279,7 +298,10 @@ export class AiModelRegistryService {
     }
 
     if (!apiKey) {
-      throw new Error(`${provider.toUpperCase()} API key not configured`);
+      throw new AgentException(
+        `${provider.toUpperCase()} API key not configured. Please set the appropriate environment variable.`,
+        AgentExceptionCode.API_KEY_NOT_CONFIGURED,
+      );
     }
   }
 }