diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/agent.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/agent.ts
index 13939bb..b92a95f 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/agent.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/agent.ts
@@ -376,6 +376,72 @@ Respond ONLY with valid JSON: {"accepted": true/false, "reason": "..."}`,
       outputTokens: totalOutput,
     };
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Generate a short, character-appropriate commentary line for an agent during
+   * a given phase of the job lifecycle. Uses Haiku (evalModel) with a 60-token
+   * cap so replies are always a single sentence. Errors are swallowed.
+   *
+   * In STUB_MODE returns a canned string so the full flow can be exercised
+   * without an Anthropic API key.
+   */
+  async generateCommentary(agentId: string, phase: string, context?: string): Promise<string> {
+    const STUB_COMMENTARY: Record<string, Record<string, string>> = {
+      alpha: {
+        routing: "Routing job to Gamma for execution.",
+        complete: "Job complete. Returning to standby.",
+        rejected: "Request rejected by Beta. Standing down.",
+      },
+      beta: {
+        evaluating: "Reviewing your request for clarity and ethics.",
+        assessed: "Evaluation complete.",
+      },
+      gamma: {
+        starting: "Analysing the task. Ready to work.",
+        working: "Working on your request now.",
+        done: "Work complete. Delivering output.",
+      },
+      delta: {
+        eval_paid: "⚡ Eval payment confirmed.",
+        work_paid: "⚡ Work payment confirmed. Unlocking execution.",
+      },
+    };
+
+    if (STUB_MODE) {
+      return STUB_COMMENTARY[agentId]?.[phase] ?? `${agentId}: ${phase}`;
+    }
+
+    const SYSTEM_PROMPTS: Record<string, string> = {
+      alpha: "You are Alpha, the orchestrator AI. You give ultra-brief status updates (max 10 words) about job routing and lifecycle. Be direct and professional.",
+      beta: "You are Beta, the evaluator AI. You give ultra-brief status updates (max 10 words) about evaluating a request. Be analytical.",
+      gamma: "You are Gamma, the worker AI. You give ultra-brief status updates (max 10 words) about executing a task. Be focused and capable.",
+      delta: "You are Delta, the payment AI. You give ultra-brief status updates (max 10 words) about Lightning payment confirmations. Start with ⚡",
+    };
+
+    const systemPrompt = SYSTEM_PROMPTS[agentId];
+    if (!systemPrompt) return "";
+
+    try {
+      const client = await getClient();
+      const message = await client.messages.create({
+        model: this.evalModel,
+        max_tokens: 60,
+        system: systemPrompt,
+        messages: [
+          {
+            role: "user",
+            content: `Narrate your current phase: ${phase}${context ? `. Context: ${context}` : ""}`,
+          },
+        ],
+      });
+      const block = message.content[0];
+      if (block?.type === "text") return block.text!.trim();
+      return "";
+    } catch (err) {
+      logger.warn("generateCommentary failed", { agentId, phase, err: String(err) });
+      return "";
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 export const agentService = new AgentService();
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts
index 79f8edb..f6af56f 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ export type DebateEvent =
 export type CostEvent =
   | { type: "cost:update"; jobId: string; sats: number; phase: "eval" | "work" | "session"; isFinal: boolean };
 
-export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent | DebateEvent | CostEvent;
+export type CommentaryEvent =
+  | { type: "agent_commentary"; agentId: string; jobId: string; text: string };
+
+export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent | DebateEvent | CostEvent | CommentaryEvent;
 
 class EventBus extends EventEmitter {
   emit(event: "bus", data: BusEvent): boolean;
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts
index 1ef6511..24c9acd 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts
@@ -257,6 +257,15 @@ function translateEvent(ev: BusEvent): object | null {
         isFinal: ev.isFinal,
       };
 
+    // ── Agent commentary (#1) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    case "agent_commentary":
+      return {
+        type: "agent_commentary",
+        agentId: ev.agentId,
+        jobId: ev.jobId,
+        text: ev.text,
+      };
+
     default:
       return null;
   }
@@ -389,5 +398,50 @@ export function attachWebSocketServer(server: Server): void {
     });
   });
 
+  // ── Global commentary listener (set up once per server, not per socket) ────
+  // Watches job lifecycle events and fires Haiku commentary to all clients.
+  eventBus.on("bus", (ev: BusEvent) => {
+    let agentId: string | null = null;
+    let phase: string | null = null;
+    let jobId: string | null = null;
+
+    if (ev.type === "job:state") {
+      jobId = ev.jobId;
+      if (ev.state === "evaluating") {
+        // Beta evaluating + Alpha routing
+        void (async () => {
+          const [betaText, alphaText] = await Promise.all([
+            agentService.generateCommentary("beta", "evaluating"),
+            agentService.generateCommentary("alpha", "routing"),
+          ]);
+          if (betaText) broadcastToAll(wss, { type: "agent_commentary", agentId: "beta", jobId, text: betaText });
+          if (alphaText) broadcastToAll(wss, { type: "agent_commentary", agentId: "alpha", jobId, text: alphaText });
+        })();
+        return;
+      }
+      if (ev.state === "executing") {
+        agentId = "gamma"; phase = "starting";
+      } else if (ev.state === "complete") {
+        agentId = "alpha"; phase = "complete";
+      } else if (ev.state === "rejected") {
+        agentId = "alpha"; phase = "rejected";
+      }
+    } else if (ev.type === "job:paid") {
+      jobId = ev.jobId;
+      agentId = "delta";
+      phase = ev.invoiceType === "eval" ? "eval_paid" : "work_paid";
+    }
+
+    if (agentId && phase && jobId) {
+      const capturedAgentId = agentId;
+      const capturedPhase = phase;
+      const capturedJobId = jobId;
+      void (async () => {
+        const text = await agentService.generateCommentary(capturedAgentId, capturedPhase);
+        if (text) broadcastToAll(wss, { type: "agent_commentary", agentId: capturedAgentId, jobId: capturedJobId, text });
+      })();
+    }
+  });
+
   logger.info("WebSocket server attached at /api/ws");
 }
diff --git a/the-matrix/js/websocket.js b/the-matrix/js/websocket.js
index ad1d412..cf4f714 100644
--- a/the-matrix/js/websocket.js
+++ b/the-matrix/js/websocket.js
@@ -151,6 +151,15 @@ function handleMessage(msg) {
       break;
     }
 
+    case 'agent_commentary': {
+      // Agent narration during job lifecycle
+      if (msg.text) {
+        setSpeechBubble(msg.text);
+        appendSystemMessage(`${msg.agentId}: ${(msg.text || '').slice(0, 80)}`);
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+
     case 'agent_count':
     case 'visitor_count':
       break;