Make onboarding background optional and fix AI nickname typo

Author: owenisas

backend/lambda_handler.py

@@ -5150,7 +5150,6 @@ def handle_update_memory(event):
             merged = {**existing_memory, **payload}
             first_name = _normalize_text(merged.get("first_name"), 120)
             last_name = _normalize_text(merged.get("last_name"), 120)
-            background_level = _normalize_text(merged.get("background_level"), 2000)
             user_role = _normalize_text(merged.get("user_role"), 120).lower()
             discovery_source = _normalize_text(merged.get("discovery_source"), 120).lower()
             discovery_source_other = _normalize_text(merged.get("discovery_source_other"), 200)
@@ -5160,8 +5159,6 @@ def handle_update_memory(event):
                 return create_response(400, {"success": False, "error": "Missing required field: first_name"})
             if not last_name:
                 return create_response(400, {"success": False, "error": "Missing required field: last_name"})
-            if not background_level:
-                return create_response(400, {"success": False, "error": "Missing required field: background_level"})
             if not user_role:
                 return create_response(400, {"success": False, "error": "Missing required field: user_role"})
             if user_role not in _ONBOARDING_ROLE_VALUES:

backend/tests/test_lambda_handler.py

@@ -179,6 +179,56 @@ def test_put_memory_rejects_missing_required_field_when_complete_onboarding(monk
     mock_persist.assert_not_called()
 
 
+def test_put_memory_allows_missing_background_when_complete_onboarding(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("AUTH_REQUIRED", "true")
+    event = {
+        "httpMethod": "PUT",
+        "path": "/memory",
+        "headers": {"Authorization": "Bearer test-token"},
+        "body": json.dumps(
+            {
+                "first_name": "Jane",
+                "last_name": "Doe",
+                "nickname": "J",
+                "onboarding_goals": ["curiosity"],
+                "discovery_source": "search",
+                "user_role": "engineer",
+                "complete_onboarding": True,
+            }
+        ),
+    }
+
+    with patch("lambda_handler._verify_firebase_token") as mock_verify, patch(
+        "lambda_handler._persist_user_profile"
+    ) as mock_persist, patch("lambda_handler._load_saved_user_profile") as mock_load:
+        mock_verify.return_value = {"uid": "user-1", "email": "jane@example.com"}
+        mock_load.side_effect = [
+            {},
+            {
+                "first_name": "Jane",
+                "last_name": "Doe",
+                "nickname": "J",
+                "preferred_name": "J",
+                "onboarding_goals": ["curiosity"],
+                "discovery_source": "search",
+                "user_role": "engineer",
+                "onboarding_version": "v1",
+                "onboarding_completed_at": "2026-03-05T12:00:00",
+            },
+        ]
+        response = handler(event, None)
+
+    assert response["statusCode"] == 200
+    body = json.loads(response["body"])
+    assert body["success"] is True
+    assert body["memory"]["onboarding_version"] == "v1"
+    assert "onboarding_completed_at" in body["memory"]
+
+    mock_persist.assert_called_once()
+    persisted_payload = mock_persist.call_args.args[1]
+    assert "background_level" not in persisted_payload
+
+
 def test_put_memory_rejects_invalid_discovery_source(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv("AUTH_REQUIRED", "true")
     event = {

frontend/src/components/app/OnboardingModal.tsx

@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ export default function OnboardingModal({
   const finish = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!onSubmit || submitting) return
     clearError()
+    const trimmedBackground = background.trim()
     await onSubmit({
       first_name: firstName.trim(),
       last_name: lastName.trim(),
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ export default function OnboardingModal({
       discovery_source: source,
       discovery_source_other: source === "others" ? sourceOther.trim() : "",
       user_role: role,
-      background_level: background.trim(),
+      ...(trimmedBackground ? { background_level: trimmedBackground } : {}),
       complete_onboarding: true,
     })
   }, [onSubmit, submitting, firstName, lastName, nickname, goals, source, sourceOther, role, background, clearError])
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ export default function OnboardingModal({
           Make it yours
         </h2>
         <p style={{ margin: 0, fontFamily: FONTS.sans, fontSize: "15px", color: COLORS.textSecondary, lineHeight: 1.6 }}>
-          This helps us tailor explanations to your world.
+          This helps us tailor explanations to your world. The model will keep learning from your chats over time.
         </p>
       </div>
 
@@ -340,7 +341,7 @@ export default function OnboardingModal({
         <textarea
           value={background}
           onChange={(e) => { setBackground(e.target.value); clearError() }}
-          placeholder="Briefly share your experience level — this becomes your learning baseline."
+          placeholder="Optional: share your experience level. The model will also learn from your chats."
           style={{
             ...inputStyle(COLORS, isDark),
             minHeight: "80px",

frontend/src/components/app/views/ProfileView.tsx

@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ export function ProfileView() {
           <input
             value={nickname}
             onChange={(e) => { setNickname(e.target.value); setSavedMessage(null) }}
-            placeholder="What should AAI call you?"
+            placeholder="What should AI call you?"
             style={fieldStyle}
           />
         </div>