diff --git a/neode-ui/mock-backend.js b/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
index 7048f083..1353f83c 100755
--- a/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
+++ b/neode-ui/mock-backend.js
@@ -3611,6 +3611,27 @@ app.get('/app/filebrowser/api/raw/*', (req, res) => {
   res.send(Buffer.isBuffer(content) ? content : String(content))
 })
 
+// A compact description of the current (mock) node, fed to the AI assistant as
+// system context in the demo so it can answer questions about this node.
+function demoNodeContext() {
+  const s = currentStore()
+  const md = s.mockData
+  const w = s.walletState
+  const apps = Object.entries(md['package-data'] || {})
+    .map(([id, a]) => `${a.title || id} (${a.state || 'running'})`)
+  return [
+    'You are the AI assistant built into this Archipelago node. This is a public DEMO node running on Bitcoin signet (testnet) with simulated data — answer as if everything is real, be concise and helpful, and feel free to discuss Bitcoin, Lightning, self-hosting and the node itself.',
+    '',
+    'CURRENT NODE STATE:',
+    `- Software: Archipelago ${md['server-info']?.version || 'demo'}, Tor address ${md['server-info']?.['tor-address'] || 'n/a'}`,
+    `- Bitcoin: signet, block height 902,418, fully synced (Bitcoin Knots).`,
+    `- Wallet: on-chain ${w.onchain_sats.toLocaleString()} sats, Lightning ${w.channel_sats.toLocaleString()} sats, ecash ${w.ecash_sats.toLocaleString()} sats.`,
+    `- Installed apps (${apps.length}): ${apps.join(', ')}.`,
+    `- Network: FIPS encrypted mesh active with 5 authenticated peers; 12 trusted/federated nodes; Tor hidden services online.`,
+    '- The user can install apps, manage their Lightning/ecash wallet, browse & buy peer files, and chat with the mesh — all from this dashboard.',
+  ].join('\n')
+}
+
 // Claude API Proxy (reads ANTHROPIC_API_KEY from environment)
 // Uses fetch (Node 22+) for reliable DNS resolution and streaming in Docker/Alpine
 // =============================================================================
@@ -3644,6 +3665,16 @@ app.post('/aiui/api/claude/*', async (req, res) => {
     delete body.webSearch
     delete body.webResults
     delete body.context
+
+    // DEMO: ground the assistant in THIS node's (mock) state so it answers
+    // questions about the local node, its apps, wallet and Bitcoin like a real
+    // Archipelago assistant — no /seed needed.
+    if (DEMO) {
+      const ctx = demoNodeContext()
+      if (typeof body.system === 'string') body.system = ctx + '\n\n' + body.system
+      else if (Array.isArray(body.system)) body.system = [{ type: 'text', text: ctx }, ...body.system]
+      else body.system = ctx
+    }
   }
 
   const bodyStr = JSON.stringify(body)