diff --git a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.test.ts b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.test.ts
index b5ff37b..d779f8b 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.test.ts
@@ -290,6 +290,13 @@ describe("fillQuote", () => {
     expect(populateIntel).toHaveBeenCalledWith("a", "quote_items", {
       write: true,
       anchor: { stockItemId: "stk1", sku: "HB-1050" },
+      posPick: {
+        stock_item_id: "stk1",
+        match: "exact",
+        differs: [],
+        reason: "same bolt",
+        model: "MiniMax-M3",
+      },
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.ts b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.ts
index 32b2720..0c1e2b3 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-service.ts
@@ -145,12 +145,28 @@ async function populateIntelAfterFill(
   nowFn: () => Date,
 ): Promise<void> {
   const aiFill = patch.ai_fill as
-    | { stock_item_id?: string | null; stock_item_sku?: string | null }
+    | {
+        stock_item_id?: string | null;
+        stock_item_sku?: string | null;
+        reason?: string;
+        model?: string;
+      }
     | undefined;
   const anchor = {
     stockItemId: aiFill?.stock_item_id || undefined,
     sku: aiFill?.stock_item_sku || undefined,
   };
+  // The line was filled from a POS row the AI picked — record it, so the
+  // price check says "this is the item the AI picked" and not "similar".
+  const posPick = aiFill?.stock_item_id
+    ? {
+        stock_item_id: aiFill.stock_item_id,
+        match: "exact" as const,
+        differs: [] as string[],
+        reason: aiFill.reason || "",
+        model: aiFill.model || "",
+      }
+    : undefined;
   if (nowFn().getTime() >= deadlineMs) {
     console.warn(
       `[quote-assistant] time budget spent — skipping item intel for line ${lineId}`,
@@ -158,7 +174,11 @@ async function populateIntelAfterFill(
     return;
   }
   try {
-    await populateItemIntel(lineId, "quote_items", { write: true, anchor });
+    await populateItemIntel(lineId, "quote_items", {
+      write: true,
+      anchor,
+      ...(posPick ? { posPick } : {}),
+    });
   } catch (e) {
     console.error(`[quote-assistant] item intel failed for line ${lineId}:`, e);
   }