diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 52cae42..c962ce1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ Analyzes your sessions from **Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Copilot CLI, and V
 > If you have [Ollama](https://ollama.com) installed, `code-insights` will detect it automatically and use it for AI analysis. No account, no cost, no data leaves your machine.
 >
 > ```bash
-> ollama pull llama3.3   # recommended
-> code-insights sync     # Ollama detected automatically
+> ollama pull llama3.3        # recommended
+> npx @code-insights/cli      # Ollama detected automatically
 > ```
 
 ---
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ Session files (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Copilot CLI, VS Code Copilot Chat
                                         ▼
                                ┌──────────────────┐
                                │  LLM Providers   │  analysis, facets,
-                               │  (your API key)  │  reflect, export
+                               │(API key or Ollama)│  reflect, export
                                └──────────────────┘
 ```
 
diff --git a/cli/src/utils/ollama-detect.ts b/cli/src/utils/ollama-detect.ts
index 11ed94a..d9a5559 100644
--- a/cli/src/utils/ollama-detect.ts
+++ b/cli/src/utils/ollama-detect.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ export async function autoDetectOllama(): Promise<void> {
   saveConfig(updatedConfig);
 
   console.log(
-    chalk.green(`\n  Ollama detected — using ${chalk.bold(model)} for AI analysis (free & local).`) +
-    chalk.dim('\n  Run `code-insights config llm` to change.\n'),
+    chalk.green(`\n  Ollama detected — configured ${chalk.bold(model)} for AI analysis (free & local).`) +
+    chalk.dim('\n  Open the dashboard and click "Analyze" on any session to get insights.') +
+    chalk.dim('\n  Run `code-insights config llm` to change provider.\n'),
   );
 }
diff --git a/dashboard/src/components/LlmNudgeBanner.tsx b/dashboard/src/components/LlmNudgeBanner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a959fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashboard/src/components/LlmNudgeBanner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { Link } from 'react-router';
+import { X, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { useLlmConfig } from '@/hooks/useConfig';
+
+interface LlmNudgeBannerProps {
+  context: 'insights' | 'patterns';
+}
+
+const COPY: Record<LlmNudgeBannerProps['context'], { title: string; description: string }> = {
+  insights: {
+    title: 'Get AI-powered insights',
+    description:
+      'Configure a provider to extract decisions, learnings, and patterns from your sessions.',
+  },
+  patterns: {
+    title: 'Enable cross-session pattern detection',
+    description:
+      'An AI provider is required to generate weekly friction and pattern analysis.',
+  },
+};
+
+function localStorageKey(context: LlmNudgeBannerProps['context']): string {
+  return `code-insights:llm-nudge-dismissed-${context}`;
+}
+
+export function LlmNudgeBanner({ context }: LlmNudgeBannerProps) {
+  const { data: llmConfig, isLoading: configLoading } = useLlmConfig();
+  const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState<boolean>(() => {
+    try {
+      return localStorage.getItem(localStorageKey(context)) === 'true';
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  });
+
+  // Don't render until config has resolved (prevents flash)
+  if (configLoading) return null;
+
+  // Don't show if LLM is already configured
+  if (llmConfig?.provider) return null;
+
+  // Don't show if user dismissed
+  if (dismissed) return null;
+
+  function handleDismiss() {
+    try {
+      localStorage.setItem(localStorageKey(context), 'true');
+    } catch { /* ignore storage errors */ }
+    setDismissed(true);
+  }
+
+  const { title, description } = COPY[context];
+
+  return (
+    <div role="status" className="flex items-start gap-3 rounded-lg border bg-muted/40 px-4 py-3 text-sm">
+      <Sparkles className="h-4 w-4 mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+      <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
+        <p className="font-medium">{title}</p>
+        <p className="text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
+          {description}{' '}
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground">
+            Install{' '}
+            <a
+              href="https://ollama.com"
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noopener noreferrer"
+              className="underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+            >
+              Ollama
+            </a>{' '}
+            for free, local analysis — or configure any provider in Settings.
+          </span>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 shrink-0 ml-2">
+        <Button variant="outline" size="sm" className="h-7 text-xs" asChild>
+          <Link to="/settings">Configure AI Provider</Link>
+        </Button>
+        <Button
+          variant="ghost"
+          size="icon"
+          className="h-7 w-7"
+          onClick={handleDismiss}
+          aria-label="Dismiss"
+        >
+          <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/dashboard/src/pages/InsightsPage.tsx b/dashboard/src/pages/InsightsPage.tsx
index 9ddbf63..9742942 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/pages/InsightsPage.tsx
+++ b/dashboard/src/pages/InsightsPage.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { InsightTypePills } from '@/components/filters/InsightTypePills';
 import { SaveFilterPopover } from '@/components/filters/SaveFilterPopover';
 import { SavedFiltersDropdown } from '@/components/filters/SavedFiltersDropdown';
 import { useSavedFilters } from '@/hooks/useSavedFilters';
+import { LlmNudgeBanner } from '@/components/LlmNudgeBanner';
 
 const INSIGHT_TYPES: InsightType[] = ['summary', 'decision', 'learning', 'technique', 'prompt_quality'];
 
@@ -270,6 +271,7 @@ export default function InsightsPage() {
 
       {/* Scrollable content */}
       <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-6 py-4 space-y-4">
+      <LlmNudgeBanner context="insights" />
       {isError && !isLoading ? (
         <ErrorCard message="Failed to load insights" onRetry={refetch} />
       ) : isLoading ? (
diff --git a/dashboard/src/pages/PatternsPage.tsx b/dashboard/src/pages/PatternsPage.tsx
index 040d0c6..66c4515 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/pages/PatternsPage.tsx
+++ b/dashboard/src/pages/PatternsPage.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { frictionBarColor, getDominantDriver } from '@/lib/constants/patterns';
 import {
   AlertTriangle, Sparkles, Shield, Brain, Copy, Check, Loader2,
 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { LlmNudgeBanner } from '@/components/LlmNudgeBanner';
 
 export default function PatternsPage() {
   const [currentWeek, setCurrentWeek] = useState<string>(() => getCurrentIsoWeek());
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ export default function PatternsPage() {
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4 p-4 lg:p-6">
+      <LlmNudgeBanner context="patterns" />
       {/* Header */}
       <div className="flex flex-col gap-2 sm:flex-row sm:items-start sm:justify-between">
         <div>