diff --git a/apps/api/cmd/seed-a1/main.go b/apps/api/cmd/seed-a1/main.go
index 39db0cd..b83da9d 100644
--- a/apps/api/cmd/seed-a1/main.go
+++ b/apps/api/cmd/seed-a1/main.go
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@
 // description + feed attributes live on raw_products.mapped_data and are
 // exported/imported as-is (skip-processed must not strip them). For a
 // polluted local DB without a full wipe, use -mode backfill-categories.
+//
+// Remaining empty mapped categories (~products never in the dump): full or
+// categorize processing asks the platform LLM (OverloadedBot / OpenAI) to pick
+// a company taxonomy unique_id from Available Categories, then persists to
+// processed_products.category and empty mapped_data.category (source=llm).
+// Do not wipe the catalog — enqueue a process job for the uncategorized subset
+// (admin Products → Process, or API processing_type=categorize / full).
 // Fixture EANs are purged from non-A1 tenants automatically.
 // Processed attribute junk (poll clean, DB still has zavora/vzmetenje, …): use
 // -mode backfill-attributes — same SanitizeProductAttributes + category allowlist
diff --git a/apps/api/cmd/tmp-cat-coverage/main.go b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-cat-coverage/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb21ccd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-cat-coverage/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/config"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	config.LoadDotEnv()
+	url := os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL")
+	if url == "" {
+		fmt.Println("NO_DATABASE_URL")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	pg, err := pgxpool.New(ctx, url)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("pg_err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	defer pg.Close()
+	company := "2b3159b0-fc08-415b-b248-35ed02a6baab"
+	var rawTotal, mappedWith, mappedEmpty, processedWith, llmSource, taxonomy int
+	_ = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') <> '' AND lower(trim(mapped_data->>'category')) <> 'none'),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') = '' OR lower(trim(COALESCE(mapped_data->>'category', ''))) = 'none')
+		FROM raw_products WHERE company_id=$1::uuid`, company).Scan(&rawTotal, &mappedWith, &mappedEmpty)
+	_ = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(category), ''), '') <> '' AND lower(trim(category)) <> 'none'),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE field_sources->>'category' = 'llm')
+		FROM processed_products WHERE company_id=$1::uuid`, company).Scan(&processedWith, &llmSource)
+	_ = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM categories WHERE company_id=$1::uuid AND COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(unique_id), ''), '') <> ''`, company).Scan(&taxonomy)
+	fmt.Printf("company=Platform Demo\nraw_total=%d\nmapped_with=%d\nmapped_empty=%d\nprocessed_with=%d\nllm_source=%d\ntaxonomy=%d\n",
+		rawTotal, mappedWith, mappedEmpty, processedWith, llmSource, taxonomy)
+
+	rows, err := pg.Query(ctx, `
+		SELECT COALESCE(rp.gtin,''), COALESCE(trim(pp.category),''), COALESCE(c.name,''),
+			COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(pp.processed_name),''), NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'name'),''), '')
+		FROM processed_products pp
+		JOIN raw_products rp ON rp.id = pp.raw_product_id AND rp.company_id = pp.company_id
+		LEFT JOIN categories c ON c.company_id = pp.company_id AND c.unique_id = NULLIF(trim(pp.category), '')
+		WHERE pp.company_id=$1::uuid AND pp.field_sources->>'category'='llm'
+		ORDER BY pp.updated_at DESC
+		LIMIT 15`, company)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("sample_err", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	fmt.Println("sample_llm:")
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var gtin, uid, name, pname string
+		_ = rows.Scan(&gtin, &uid, &name, &pname)
+		fmt.Printf("  gtin=%s uid=%s name=%s product=%s\n", gtin, uid, name, truncate(pname, 60))
+	}
+}
+
+func truncate(s string, n int) string {
+	if len(s) <= n {
+		return s
+	}
+	return s[:n] + "…"
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/cmd/tmp-llm-categorize/main.go b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-llm-categorize/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4bd3d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-llm-categorize/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,455 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/aiprompts"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/aiprovider"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/config"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/db"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/eprel"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/logredact"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/platformsettings"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/processing"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	outDir := os.Getenv("PROBE_OUT_DIR")
+	if outDir == "" {
+		outDir = `F:\laragon\www\_MY\descrybe-v2\.codehelper\_llm_categorize_20260816`
+	}
+	_ = os.MkdirAll(outDir, 0o755)
+
+	logPath := filepath.Join(outDir, "run.log")
+	logFile, err := os.Create(logPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("log file: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer logFile.Close()
+	log.SetOutput(logredact.Writer(io.MultiWriter(os.Stderr, logFile)))
+
+	limit := 90
+	companyID := uuid.MustParse("2b3159b0-fc08-415b-b248-35ed02a6baab") // Platform Demo
+	userID := uuid.MustParse("0ce3305c-d810-4b56-b1d4-3c1ed510db76")
+
+	cfg, err := config.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("config: %v", err)
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	pool, err := db.NewPool(ctx, cfg.DatabaseURL, db.PoolOptions{
+		MaxConns:              int32(cfg.DBMaxConns),
+		MinConns:              int32(cfg.DBMinConns),
+		MaxConnLifetime:       cfg.DBMaxConnLifetime,
+		MaxConnLifetimeJitter: cfg.DBMaxConnLifetimeJitter,
+		MaxConnIdleTime:       cfg.DBMaxConnIdleTime,
+		HealthCheckPeriod:     cfg.DBHealthCheckPeriod,
+		StatementTimeout:      cfg.DBStatementTimeout,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("db: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer pool.Close()
+
+	platEnv := platformsettings.EnvConfig{
+		AppEncryptionKey:         cfg.AppEncryptionKey,
+		CredentialsEncryptionKey: cfg.CredentialsEncryptionKey,
+		TokenSigningSecret:       cfg.TokenSigningSecret,
+		DatabaseURL:              cfg.DatabaseURL,
+		OpenAIAPIKey:             cfg.OpenAIAPIKey,
+		OpenAIBaseURL:            cfg.OpenAIBaseURL,
+		OpenAIModel:              cfg.OpenAIModel,
+		OpenAIEmbeddingAPIKey:    cfg.OpenAIEmbeddingAPIKey,
+		OpenAIEmbeddingBaseURL:   cfg.OpenAIEmbeddingBaseURL,
+		OpenAIEmbeddingModel:     cfg.OpenAIEmbeddingModel,
+	}
+	platSettings := platformsettings.NewService(pool, platEnv)
+	aiSvc := aiprovider.NewService(pool, aiprovider.EnvConfig{
+		AppEncryptionKey:         cfg.AppEncryptionKey,
+		CredentialsEncryptionKey: cfg.CredentialsEncryptionKey,
+		TokenSigningSecret:       cfg.TokenSigningSecret,
+		DatabaseURL:              cfg.DatabaseURL,
+		OpenAIAPIKey:             cfg.OpenAIAPIKey,
+		OpenAIBaseURL:            cfg.OpenAIBaseURL,
+		OpenAIModel:              cfg.OpenAIModel,
+		ProcessingRPM:            cfg.ProcessingRPM,
+		ProcessingMaxRetries:     cfg.ProcessingMaxRetries,
+	})
+	aiSvc.Platform = platSettings
+
+	roleCfg, rerr := platSettings.ResolveAIConfig(ctx, platformsettings.AIRoleProcessing)
+	if rerr != nil {
+		failJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", map[string]any{"ok": false, "err": rerr.Error()})
+		log.Fatalf("ResolveAIConfig: %v", rerr)
+	}
+	completer, modeLabel, byok, cerr := aiSvc.ResolveCompleterForRole(ctx, companyID, aiprovider.RoleProcessing)
+	if cerr != nil {
+		failJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", map[string]any{"ok": false, "err": cerr.Error()})
+		log.Fatalf("ResolveCompleterForRole: %v", cerr)
+	}
+	if completer == nil {
+		failJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", map[string]any{"ok": false, "err": "nil completer"})
+		log.Fatal("LIVE LLM REQUIRED: nil completer")
+	}
+	client, ok := completer.(*processing.OpenAIClient)
+	if !ok {
+		failJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", map[string]any{"ok": false, "err": fmt.Sprintf("type %T", completer)})
+		log.Fatalf("completer type %T not *OpenAIClient", completer)
+	}
+	base := strings.TrimSpace(client.BaseURL)
+	model := strings.TrimSpace(client.Model)
+	resolveInfo := map[string]any{
+		"role_source":    roleCfg.Source,
+		"role_base_url":  roleCfg.BaseURL,
+		"role_model":     roleCfg.Model,
+		"completer_base": base,
+		"completer_model": model,
+		"mode_label":     modeLabel,
+		"byok":           byok,
+		"live":           true,
+	}
+	if processing.IsMockOrLoopbackBaseURL(base) || strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(base), "18767") {
+		resolveInfo["live"] = false
+		resolveInfo["fail_reason"] = "mock/loopback"
+		writeJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", resolveInfo)
+		log.Fatalf("LIVE LLM REQUIRED: base=%s — refuse mock", base)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(client.APIKey) == "" {
+		resolveInfo["live"] = false
+		resolveInfo["fail_reason"] = "empty API key"
+		writeJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", resolveInfo)
+		log.Fatal("LIVE LLM REQUIRED: empty API key")
+	}
+
+	// Probe /v1/models
+	modelsURL := strings.TrimRight(base, "/") + "/models"
+	modelsCtx, modelsCancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 30*time.Second)
+	defer modelsCancel()
+	modelsReq, _ := http.NewRequestWithContext(modelsCtx, http.MethodGet, modelsURL, nil)
+	modelsReq.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+client.APIKey)
+	modelsResp, merr := http.DefaultClient.Do(modelsReq)
+	if merr != nil {
+		resolveInfo["probe_ok"] = false
+		resolveInfo["models_error"] = processing.TruncateError(merr)
+		writeJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", resolveInfo)
+		log.Fatalf("LIVE LLM CONNECTION ERROR: %s", processing.TruncateError(merr))
+	}
+	modelsBody, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(modelsResp.Body, 1024))
+	_ = modelsResp.Body.Close()
+	resolveInfo["models_http_status"] = modelsResp.StatusCode
+	resolveInfo["models_body_snippet"] = truncate(string(modelsBody), 200)
+	if modelsResp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		resolveInfo["probe_ok"] = false
+		writeJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", resolveInfo)
+		log.Fatalf("LIVE LLM CONNECTION ERROR: models HTTP %d", modelsResp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	resolveInfo["probe_ok"] = true
+	writeJSON(outDir, "resolve.json", resolveInfo)
+	log.Printf("live LLM ok base=%s model=%s mode=%s", base, model, modeLabel)
+
+	before := coverageStats(ctx, pool, companyID)
+	writeJSON(outDir, "coverage_before.json", before)
+	log.Printf("coverage before: raw=%d mapped_with=%d mapped_empty=%d processed_with=%d taxonomy=%d",
+		before.RawTotal, before.MappedWith, before.MappedEmpty, before.ProcessedWith, before.TaxonomyCount)
+
+	rawIDs, samples, err := pickEmptyCategoryRawIDs(ctx, pool, companyID, limit)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("pick: %v", err)
+	}
+	writeJSON(outDir, "batch_sample.json", samples)
+	log.Printf("batch size=%d", len(rawIDs))
+	if len(rawIDs) == 0 {
+		log.Fatal("no empty-category products with name/description found")
+	}
+
+	pipeline := processing.NewPipeline(pool)
+	pipeline.BatchSize = cfg.ProcessingBatchSize
+	pipeline.AI = aiSvc
+	pipeline.Prompts = aiprompts.NewService(pool)
+	pipeline.Engine = &processing.Engine{
+		Completer:    nil,
+		Vector:       processing.NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+		EPREL:        eprel.NewClient(eprel.Options{Enabled: false, Timeout: 5 * time.Second}),
+		ProviderMode: processing.AIProviderInternal,
+	}
+
+	_, _ = pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		UPDATE processing_jobs
+		SET status = 'failed', error = 'yielded to llm categorize batch', updated_at = now()
+		WHERE company_id = $1 AND status IN ('pending','running','processing')`, companyID)
+
+	jobs, err := pipeline.StartJob(ctx, companyID, userID, rawIDs, "categorize_only")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("StartJob: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(jobs) == 0 {
+		log.Fatal("StartJob returned no jobs")
+	}
+	jobID := jobs[0].ID
+	_ = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(outDir, "process_id.txt"), []byte(jobID.String()+"\n"), 0o644)
+	log.Printf("job_id=%s chunks=%d type=categorize_only", jobID, len(jobs))
+
+	runCtx, runCancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 45*time.Minute)
+	defer runCancel()
+	start := time.Now()
+	for i, j := range jobs {
+		log.Printf("ProcessJob %d/%d id=%s", i+1, len(jobs), j.ID)
+		if err := pipeline.ProcessJob(runCtx, j.ID); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("ProcessJob %s: %v", j.ID, err)
+		}
+	}
+	elapsed := time.Since(start).Round(time.Millisecond)
+
+	after := coverageStats(ctx, pool, companyID)
+	writeJSON(outDir, "coverage_after.json", after)
+
+	results, err := loadBatchResults(ctx, pool, companyID, rawIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("results: %v", err)
+	}
+	writeJSON(outDir, "batch_results.json", results)
+
+	okCount, rejected, stillEmpty := 0, 0, 0
+	llmCount := 0
+	for _, r := range results {
+		if r.MappedCategory == "" && r.ProcessedCategory == "" {
+			stillEmpty++
+			continue
+		}
+		okCount++
+		if r.FieldSource == "llm" {
+			llmCount++
+		}
+		if r.FieldSource == "cleared_invalid" {
+			rejected++
+		}
+	}
+
+	scorecard := map[string]any{
+		"date":              time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+		"company_id":        companyID.String(),
+		"company":           "Platform Demo",
+		"processing_type":   "categorize_only",
+		"job_id":            jobID.String(),
+		"batch_requested":   limit,
+		"batch_actual":      len(rawIDs),
+		"elapsed":           elapsed.String(),
+		"llm_base":          base,
+		"llm_model":         model,
+		"coverage_before":   before,
+		"coverage_after":    after,
+		"batch_ok":          okCount,
+		"batch_llm_source":  llmCount,
+		"batch_still_empty": stillEmpty,
+		"batch_rejected":    rejected,
+		"mapped_delta":      after.MappedWith - before.MappedWith,
+		"processed_delta":   after.ProcessedWith - before.ProcessedWith,
+		"how_to_run_all": []string{
+			"Admin UI: Products → select uncategorized → Process with type categorize (or full)",
+			"API: POST /v1/products/process with processing_type=categorize_only and product ids lacking mapped_data.category",
+			"Chunk 100–500 at a time; avoid full 25k in one job unless worker concurrency + credit budget are confirmed",
+			"Seed: npm run seed:a1 restores dump backfill (~17%); remaining empties need categorize_only/full with live LLM",
+		},
+	}
+	writeJSON(outDir, "scorecard.json", scorecard)
+
+	md := fmt.Sprintf(`# LLM categorize scorecard — 2026-08-16
+
+## Verdict
+Batch **%d** Platform Demo products with empty `+"`mapped_data.category`"+` via `+"`categorize_only`"+` (vector noop → LLM taxonomy pick).
+
+## LLM
+- base: `+"`%s`"+`
+- model: `+"`%s`"+`
+- job: `+"`%s`"+`
+- elapsed: %s
+
+## Coverage (company-wide)
+| | before | after | delta |
+|--|--:|--:|--:|
+| mapped with category | %d | %d | %+d |
+| mapped empty | %d | %d | %+d |
+| processed with category | %d | %d | %+d |
+| taxonomy unique_ids | %d | %d | |
+
+## Batch
+- requested/actual: %d / %d
+- got category (mapped or processed): %d
+- field_sources.category=llm: %d
+- still empty: %d
+
+## How it works
+1. Full / categorize pipeline: after mapped/prior, if category empty → Pinecone vector (if enabled) → LLM Completer with bounded company taxonomy (unique_id + name, max 200).
+2. Response `+"`categoryId`"+` coerced/validated against taxonomy; inventing IDs is rejected (`+"`filterCategoryIfInvalid`"+`).
+3. Persists to `+"`processed_products.category`"+` and empty `+"`mapped_data.category`"+`; logs `+"`uid/name source=llm`"+`.
+
+## How to run remaining (~%d empty)
+1. Prefer chunks of 100–500 (this probe used %d).
+2. Admin Products → filter uncategorized → Process (`+"`categorize`"+` / `+"`categorize_only`"+`).
+3. Or API `+"`processing_type=categorize_only`"+` on raw product ids.
+4. `+"`full`"+` also categorizes then enhances (more tokens).
+5. Seed dump backfill does not invent categories for products missing from MySQL dump — LLM categorize fills those going forward without wiping the 25k catalog.
+`,
+		len(rawIDs), base, model, jobID.String(), elapsed.String(),
+		before.MappedWith, after.MappedWith, after.MappedWith-before.MappedWith,
+		before.MappedEmpty, after.MappedEmpty, after.MappedEmpty-before.MappedEmpty,
+		before.ProcessedWith, after.ProcessedWith, after.ProcessedWith-before.ProcessedWith,
+		before.TaxonomyCount, after.TaxonomyCount,
+		limit, len(rawIDs), okCount, llmCount, stillEmpty,
+		after.MappedEmpty, len(rawIDs),
+	)
+	_ = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(outDir, "SCORECARD.md"), []byte(md), 0o644)
+	log.Printf("done ok=%d llm=%d empty=%d mapped_delta=%+d → %s",
+		okCount, llmCount, stillEmpty, after.MappedWith-before.MappedWith, outDir)
+}
+
+type coverage struct {
+	RawTotal       int `json:"raw_total"`
+	MappedWith     int `json:"mapped_with"`
+	MappedEmpty    int `json:"mapped_empty"`
+	ProcessedWith  int `json:"processed_with"`
+	TaxonomyCount  int `json:"taxonomy_count"`
+}
+
+func coverageStats(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, companyID uuid.UUID) coverage {
+	var c coverage
+	_ = pool.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (
+				WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') <> ''
+				  AND lower(trim(mapped_data->>'category')) <> 'none'
+			),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (
+				WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') = ''
+				   OR lower(trim(COALESCE(mapped_data->>'category', ''))) = 'none'
+			)
+		FROM raw_products WHERE company_id = $1`, companyID).
+		Scan(&c.RawTotal, &c.MappedWith, &c.MappedEmpty)
+	_ = pool.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*) FILTER (
+			WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(category), ''), '') <> ''
+			  AND lower(trim(category)) <> 'none'
+		)
+		FROM processed_products WHERE company_id = $1`, companyID).Scan(&c.ProcessedWith)
+	_ = pool.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*) FROM categories
+		WHERE company_id = $1 AND COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(unique_id), ''), '') <> ''`, companyID).
+		Scan(&c.TaxonomyCount)
+	return c
+}
+
+type sampleRow struct {
+	RawID   string `json:"raw_id"`
+	GTIN    string `json:"gtin"`
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+func pickEmptyCategoryRawIDs(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, companyID uuid.UUID, limit int) ([]uuid.UUID, []sampleRow, error) {
+	rows, err := pool.Query(ctx, `
+		SELECT rp.id, COALESCE(rp.gtin, ''), COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'name'), ''), NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'title'), ''), '')
+		FROM raw_products rp
+		LEFT JOIN processed_products pp ON pp.company_id = rp.company_id AND pp.raw_product_id = rp.id
+		WHERE rp.company_id = $1
+		  AND (
+			COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') = ''
+			OR lower(trim(COALESCE(rp.mapped_data->>'category', ''))) = 'none'
+		  )
+		  AND (
+			pp.id IS NULL
+			OR COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(pp.category), ''), '') = ''
+			OR lower(trim(COALESCE(pp.category, ''))) = 'none'
+		  )
+		  AND (
+			COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'name'), ''), '') <> ''
+			OR COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'title'), ''), '') <> ''
+			OR COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'description'), ''), '') <> ''
+		  )
+		ORDER BY rp.updated_at DESC NULLS LAST, rp.id
+		LIMIT $2`, companyID, limit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	ids := make([]uuid.UUID, 0, limit)
+	samples := make([]sampleRow, 0, limit)
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var id uuid.UUID
+		var gtin, name string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&id, &gtin, &name); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+		ids = append(ids, id)
+		samples = append(samples, sampleRow{RawID: id.String(), GTIN: gtin, Name: truncate(name, 80)})
+	}
+	return ids, samples, rows.Err()
+}
+
+type resultRow struct {
+	RawID             string `json:"raw_id"`
+	GTIN              string `json:"gtin"`
+	MappedCategory    string `json:"mapped_category"`
+	ProcessedCategory string `json:"processed_category"`
+	CategoryName      string `json:"category_name"`
+	FieldSource       string `json:"field_source"`
+	Name              string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+func loadBatchResults(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, companyID uuid.UUID, rawIDs []uuid.UUID) ([]resultRow, error) {
+	rows, err := pool.Query(ctx, `
+		SELECT rp.id::text, COALESCE(rp.gtin, ''),
+			COALESCE(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), ''),
+			COALESCE(trim(pp.category), ''),
+			COALESCE(c.name, ''),
+			COALESCE(pp.field_sources->>'category', ''),
+			COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(pp.processed_name), ''), NULLIF(trim(rp.mapped_data->>'name'), ''), '')
+		FROM raw_products rp
+		LEFT JOIN processed_products pp ON pp.company_id = rp.company_id AND pp.raw_product_id = rp.id
+		LEFT JOIN categories c ON c.company_id = rp.company_id AND c.unique_id = NULLIF(trim(pp.category), '')
+		WHERE rp.company_id = $1 AND rp.id = ANY($2::uuid[])
+		ORDER BY rp.id`, companyID, rawIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	out := make([]resultRow, 0, len(rawIDs))
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var r resultRow
+		if err := rows.Scan(&r.RawID, &r.GTIN, &r.MappedCategory, &r.ProcessedCategory, &r.CategoryName, &r.FieldSource, &r.Name); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, r)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func writeJSON(dir, name string, v any) {
+	b, _ := json.MarshalIndent(v, "", "  ")
+	_ = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, name), append(b, '\n'), 0o644)
+}
+
+func failJSON(dir, name string, v any) {
+	writeJSON(dir, name, v)
+}
+
+func truncate(s string, n int) string {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if len(s) <= n {
+		return s
+	}
+	return s[:n] + "…"
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/cmd/tmp-scan-cats/main.go b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-scan-cats/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d581b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/cmd/tmp-scan-cats/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/billing"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/config"
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/processing"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	config.LoadDotEnv()
+	dumpPath := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("SEED_A1_MYSQL_DUMP"))
+	if dumpPath == "" && len(os.Args) > 1 {
+		dumpPath = os.Args[1]
+	}
+	if dumpPath == "" {
+		dumpPath = processing.ResolveMySQLDumpPath("")
+	}
+	legacy := billing.A1LegacyCompanyID
+	companyID := uuid.MustParse("604f23a8-b66e-4b21-8b45-0d72b68f4790")
+
+	fmt.Printf("dump=%s\n", dumpPath)
+	fmt.Printf("legacy_company=%s\n", legacy)
+
+	if dumpPath != "" {
+		f, err := os.Open(dumpPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("dump_open_err=%v\n", err)
+		} else {
+			defer f.Close()
+			byGTIN, err := processing.ScanA1ProcessedCategories(f, legacy)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Printf("scan_err=%v\n", err)
+			} else {
+				withCat := 0
+				for _, c := range byGTIN {
+					if strings.TrimSpace(c) != "" && !strings.EqualFold(c, "NULL") && !strings.EqualFold(c, "none") {
+						withCat++
+					}
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("dump_pairs=%d with_nonempty_cat=%d\n", len(byGTIN), withCat)
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println("dump=NONE")
+	}
+
+	pgURL := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL"))
+	if pgURL == "" {
+		fmt.Println("postgres=NO_DATABASE_URL")
+		return
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Minute)
+	defer cancel()
+	pg, err := pgxpool.New(ctx, pgURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("postgres_err=%v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer pg.Close()
+
+	var legacyDB, name string
+	_ = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT COALESCE(legacy_company_id::text,''), name FROM companies WHERE id=$1`, companyID).Scan(&legacyDB, &name)
+	fmt.Printf("pg_company name=%q legacy=%s\n", name, legacyDB)
+
+	var rawTotal, rawWith, rawWithout int
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') <> ''),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') = '')
+		FROM raw_products WHERE company_id=$1`, companyID).Scan(&rawTotal, &rawWith, &rawWithout)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("raw_count_err=%v\n", err)
+	} else {
+		pct := 0.0
+		if rawTotal > 0 {
+			pct = 100.0 * float64(rawWith) / float64(rawTotal)
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("pg_raw total=%d with_cat=%d without_cat=%d pct_with=%.1f\n", rawTotal, rawWith, rawWithout, pct)
+	}
+
+	var ppTotal, ppWith, ppWithout int
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT COUNT(*),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(category), ''), '') <> '' AND lower(trim(category)) <> 'none'),
+			COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(category), ''), '') = '' OR lower(trim(category)) = 'none')
+		FROM processed_products WHERE company_id=$1`, companyID).Scan(&ppTotal, &ppWith, &ppWithout)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("pp_count_err=%v\n", err)
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("pg_processed total=%d with_cat=%d without_cat=%d\n", ppTotal, ppWith, ppWithout)
+	}
+
+	// Dry-run overlap: how many dump GTINs would fill empty mapped categories
+	if dumpPath != "" {
+		f2, err := os.Open(dumpPath)
+		if err == nil {
+			byGTIN, err := processing.ScanA1ProcessedCategories(f2, legacy)
+			_ = f2.Close()
+			if err == nil && len(byGTIN) > 0 {
+				gtins := make([]string, 0, len(byGTIN))
+				cats := make([]string, 0, len(byGTIN))
+				for g, c := range byGTIN {
+					gtins = append(gtins, g)
+					cats = append(cats, c)
+				}
+				var wouldUpdate, alreadyOk, noRawMatch int
+				err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+					WITH dump(gtin, category) AS (
+						SELECT * FROM unnest($2::text[], $3::text[])
+					),
+					joined AS (
+						SELECT r.gtin,
+							COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(r.mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') AS cur,
+							COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(d.category), ''), '') AS want
+						FROM dump d
+						LEFT JOIN raw_products r ON r.company_id=$1 AND r.gtin=d.gtin
+					)
+					SELECT
+						COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE gtin IS NOT NULL AND want <> '' AND (cur = '' OR cur IS DISTINCT FROM want)),
+						COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE gtin IS NOT NULL AND want <> '' AND cur <> '' AND cur = want),
+						COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE gtin IS NULL)
+					FROM joined
+				`, companyID, gtins, cats).Scan(&wouldUpdate, &alreadyOk, &noRawMatch)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Printf("dry_run_err=%v\n", err)
+				} else {
+					fmt.Printf("dry_run would_update_mapped=%d already_ok=%d dump_gtin_no_raw_row=%d\n", wouldUpdate, alreadyOk, noRawMatch)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/aiprompts/kinds.go b/apps/api/internal/aiprompts/kinds.go
index 8a7ee13..92d2980 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/aiprompts/kinds.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/aiprompts/kinds.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ var BuiltInDefaults = []DefaultTemplate{
 	{
 		Key:         KeyProductEnhance,
 		Label:       "Product title & description",
-		Description: "Used when processing products (AI enhance step).",
+		Description: "Used when processing products (AI enhance step). Categorize (taxonomy pick when category is empty) is a separate pipeline step before this.",
 		SystemTemplate: `Retail product copywriter.
 Rules:
 - Reply with ONLY JSON (no markdown)
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/ai.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/ai.go
index fa72b05..789748d 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/processing/ai.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/ai.go
@@ -9,19 +9,23 @@ import (
 
 // Pipeline step names (canonical order for "full").
 const (
-	StepNormalize  = "normalize"
-	StepParseSpecs = "parse_specs"
-	StepFillFields = "fill_fields"
-	StepEPREL      = "eprel"
-	StepAIEnhance  = "ai_enhance"
+	StepNormalize   = "normalize"
+	StepParseSpecs  = "parse_specs"
+	StepFillFields  = "fill_fields"
+	StepEPREL       = "eprel"
+	StepCategorize  = "categorize"
+	StepAIEnhance   = "ai_enhance"
 )
 
 // CanonicalSteps is the default full pipeline order.
+// categorize runs before ai_enhance so category formulas / overlays key correctly
+// (legacy Descrybe: GPT picks a taxonomy unique_id when mapped category is empty).
 var CanonicalSteps = []string{
 	StepNormalize,
 	StepParseSpecs,
 	StepFillFields,
 	StepEPREL,
+	StepCategorize,
 	StepAIEnhance,
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..078e475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai.go
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package processing
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// MaxCategorizeOptions caps the taxonomy list injected into the categorize LLM
+// prompt (token/cost bound). Prefer stable sort by display name then unique_id.
+const MaxCategorizeOptions = 200
+
+// MaxTokensCategorize budgets a short JSON reply {"categoryId","confidence"}.
+// code-fast / reasoning-style models often burn internal tokens before JSON;
+// 256 frequently finishes with empty content and forces a length-cap retry.
+const MaxTokensCategorize = 4096
+
+// categoryOption is one company taxonomy row for the categorize prompt.
+type categoryOption struct {
+	UniqueID string
+	Name     string
+}
+
+// categoryOptionsFromNames builds a stable, capped list from unique_id → name.
+// Empty map → no AI categorize (nothing valid to choose).
+func categoryOptionsFromNames(namesByUID map[string]string) []categoryOption {
+	if len(namesByUID) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]categoryOption, 0, len(namesByUID))
+	for uid, name := range namesByUID {
+		uid = strings.TrimSpace(uid)
+		if uid == "" || strings.EqualFold(uid, "none") {
+			continue
+		}
+		name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+		if name == "" {
+			name = uid
+		}
+		out = append(out, categoryOption{UniqueID: uid, Name: name})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if out[i].Name != out[j].Name {
+			return strings.ToLower(out[i].Name) < strings.ToLower(out[j].Name)
+		}
+		return out[i].UniqueID < out[j].UniqueID
+	})
+	if len(out) > MaxCategorizeOptions {
+		out = out[:MaxCategorizeOptions]
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// categoryUniqueIDsList returns sorted unique_ids for vector SuggestCategory candidates.
+func categoryUniqueIDsList(namesByUID map[string]string) []string {
+	opts := categoryOptionsFromNames(namesByUID)
+	if len(opts) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]string, len(opts))
+	for i, o := range opts {
+		out[i] = o.UniqueID
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// formatAvailableCategoriesList mirrors legacy Descrybe "Available Categories:"
+// bullets: "Name (ID: unique_id)".
+func formatAvailableCategoriesList(opts []categoryOption) string {
+	if len(opts) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		b.WriteString("- ")
+		b.WriteString(SanitizeText(o.Name))
+		b.WriteString(" (ID: ")
+		b.WriteString(SanitizeText(o.UniqueID))
+		b.WriteString(")\n")
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(b.String())
+}
+
+// ProductCategorizeSystem is the built-in system prompt for taxonomy selection.
+const ProductCategorizeSystem = `Product categorization expert.
+Rules:
+- Reply with ONLY a single JSON object (no markdown, no prose, no reasoning)
+- Schema: {"categoryId":"string","confidence":0.0}
+- categoryId MUST be one of the Available Categories IDs exactly (the value in parentheses after ID:)
+- Never invent IDs or names; inventing IDs fails categorization
+- Prefer the most specific category that matches the product
+Example:
+{"categoryId":"50","confidence":0.9}`
+
+// ProductCategorizeUser builds the user prompt with product context + taxonomy list.
+func ProductCategorizeUser(name, description string, opts []categoryOption) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("Select the best category for this product from Available Categories only.\n\n")
+	b.WriteString("Product Information:\n")
+	b.WriteString("Name: ")
+	b.WriteString(SanitizeText(truncateRunes(name, 200)))
+	b.WriteString("\nDesc: ")
+	b.WriteString(SanitizeText(truncateRunes(description, MaxProductDescRunes)))
+	b.WriteString("\n\nAvailable Categories:\n")
+	b.WriteString(formatAvailableCategoriesList(opts))
+	b.WriteString("\n\nImportant:\n")
+	b.WriteString("- Return categoryId as the exact ID from the list\n")
+	b.WriteString("- Do not invent categories outside the list\n")
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// tryAICategorize asks the Completer to pick a company taxonomy unique_id when
+// Category is still empty after mapped/prior/vector. Never invents outside taxonomy:
+// responses are coerced then filtered to namesByUID / valid unique_ids.
+func tryAICategorize(ctx context.Context, e *Engine, out *StepResult, in ProductInput, policy StepPolicy) {
+	if out == nil || strings.TrimSpace(out.Category) != "" {
+		return
+	}
+	if !policy.AllowAI {
+		return
+	}
+	if e == nil || !e.CompleterEnabled() {
+		return
+	}
+	opts := categoryOptionsFromNames(in.CategoryNamesByUID)
+	if len(opts) == 0 {
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_categorize: skipped (no company taxonomy)")
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status": "skipped",
+			"reason": "no_taxonomy",
+		})
+		return
+	}
+	name := strings.TrimSpace(out.Name)
+	if name == "" {
+		name = strings.TrimSpace(out.ProcessedName)
+	}
+	desc := strings.TrimSpace(out.Description)
+	if desc == "" {
+		desc = strings.TrimSpace(out.ProcessedDescription)
+	}
+	if name == "" && desc == "" {
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_categorize: skipped (empty product text)")
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status": "skipped",
+			"reason": "empty_product",
+		})
+		return
+	}
+
+	system := ProductCategorizeSystem
+	user := ProductCategorizeUser(name, desc, opts)
+	comp, obj, err := CompleteJSON(ctx, e.Completer, system, user, CompleteOptions{
+		MaxTokens:   MaxTokensCategorize,
+		Temperature: DefaultStructuredTemp,
+	})
+	out.TotalTokens += comp.TotalTokens
+	if err != nil {
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_categorize: "+TruncateError(err))
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status": "failed",
+			"error":  TruncateError(err),
+			"tokens": comp.TotalTokens,
+		})
+		return
+	}
+
+	raw := categoryIDFromCategorizeJSON(obj)
+	valid := make(map[string]struct{}, len(opts))
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		valid[o.UniqueID] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	resolved := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID(raw, in.CategoryNamesByUID, valid)
+	if resolved == "" || isUnusableCategoryValue(resolved, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_categorize: ignored (not in company taxonomy)")
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status":   "rejected",
+			"returned": raw,
+			"tokens":   comp.TotalTokens,
+		})
+		return
+	}
+
+	out.Category = SanitizeText(resolved)
+	if out.FieldSources == nil {
+		out.FieldSources = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	out.FieldSources["category"] = "llm"
+	syncCategoryName(out, in.CategoryNamesByUID)
+	out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "category: llm")
+	log.Printf("processing: category choice uid=%s name=%s source=llm", out.Category, out.CategoryName)
+	appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+		"status":   "ok",
+		"category": out.Category,
+		"name":     out.CategoryName,
+		"source":   "llm",
+		"tokens":   comp.TotalTokens,
+		"options":  len(opts),
+	})
+}
+
+func categoryIDFromCategorizeJSON(obj map[string]any) string {
+	if obj == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	for _, k := range []string{"categoryId", "category_id", "categoryUniqueId", "category_unique_id", "unique_id", "id", "category"} {
+		if s := categoryUniqueIDFromAny(obj[k]); s != "" {
+			return s
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// firstAvailableCategoryIDFromPrompt extracts the first "(ID: …)" token from a
+// categorize user prompt (HeuristicCompleter / weak-model fallback).
+func firstAvailableCategoryIDFromPrompt(user string) string {
+	const marker = "(id:"
+	lower := strings.ToLower(user)
+	at := strings.Index(lower, marker)
+	if at < 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	rest := strings.TrimSpace(user[at+len(marker):])
+	end := strings.Index(rest, ")")
+	if end <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(rest[:end])
+}
+
+// runCategorizeStep applies vector then LLM taxonomy selection when Category empty.
+func runCategorizeStep(ctx context.Context, e *Engine, companyID string, out *StepResult, in ProductInput, categoryNames []string, policy StepPolicy) {
+	if out == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(out.Category) != "" {
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status":   "skipped",
+			"reason":   "already_set",
+			"category": out.Category,
+		})
+		return
+	}
+	if !policy.AllowAI {
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "categorize: skipped (AI not allowed)")
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status": "skipped",
+			"reason": "entitlement_can_use_ai",
+		})
+		return
+	}
+	tryVectorCategorize(ctx, e, companyID, out, categoryNames, policy)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(out.Category) != "" {
+		return
+	}
+	tryAICategorize(ctx, e, out, in, policy)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(out.Category) == "" {
+		appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepCategorize, map[string]any{
+			"status": "unset",
+			"reason": "no_vector_or_ai_match",
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// persistMappedCategorySQL writes a taxonomy unique_id onto mapped_data.category
+// when the mapped value is still empty (so Products UI + reprocess stick).
+const persistMappedCategorySQL = `
+	UPDATE raw_products
+	SET mapped_data = jsonb_set(
+		COALESCE(mapped_data, '{}'::jsonb),
+		'{category}',
+		to_jsonb($3::text),
+		true
+	),
+	updated_at = now()
+	WHERE id = $1 AND company_id = $2
+	  AND COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(mapped_data->>'category'), ''), '') = ''
+	  AND COALESCE(NULLIF(trim($3), ''), '') <> ''
+	  AND lower(trim($3)) <> 'none'`
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai_test.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1347139
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/categorize_ai_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+package processing
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestTryAICategorize_picksTaxonomyUniqueID(t *testing.T) {
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(system), "categoryid") {
+				if !strings.Contains(user, "Available Categories:") {
+					t.Fatalf("expected Available Categories in user prompt")
+				}
+				if !strings.Contains(user, "(ID: 50)") {
+					t.Fatalf("expected ID 50 in list: %s", user)
+				}
+				return Completion{
+					Text:         `{"categoryId":"50","confidence":0.91}`,
+					TotalTokens:  12,
+					PromptTokens: 8,
+					OutputTokens: 4,
+				}, nil
+			}
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"Gorenje Cooker","description":"Freestanding cooker for the kitchen."}`, TotalTokens: 5}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:        "Gorenje stove",
+		Description: "Freestanding cooker",
+		CategoryNamesByUID: map[string]string{
+			"28": "TV",
+			"50": "Štedilniki",
+		},
+	}, "full", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "50" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want 50", out.Category)
+	}
+	if out.CategoryName != "Štedilniki" {
+		t.Fatalf("CategoryName=%q want Štedilniki", out.CategoryName)
+	}
+	if src, _ := out.FieldSources["category"].(string); src != "llm" {
+		t.Fatalf("field_sources.category=%v want llm", out.FieldSources["category"])
+	}
+	if out.TotalTokens < 12 {
+		t.Fatalf("TotalTokens=%d want >=12 from categorize", out.TotalTokens)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTryAICategorize_rejectsInventedID(t *testing.T) {
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(system), "categoryid") {
+				return Completion{Text: `{"categoryId":"99999","confidence":0.9}`, TotalTokens: 3}, nil
+			}
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"X","description":"Y"}`, TotalTokens: 5}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name: "Widget",
+		CategoryNamesByUID: map[string]string{
+			"50": "Štedilniki",
+		},
+	}, "full", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want empty (invented id rejected)", out.Category)
+	}
+	found := false
+	for _, n := range out.Notes {
+		if strings.Contains(n, "ai_categorize: ignored") {
+			found = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("expected reject note, got %v", out.Notes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTryAICategorize_resolvesDisplayName(t *testing.T) {
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(system), "categoryid") {
+				return Completion{Text: `{"categoryId":"Štedilniki","confidence":0.8}`, TotalTokens: 3}, nil
+			}
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"X","description":"Y"}`, TotalTokens: 5}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name: "Cooker",
+		CategoryNamesByUID: map[string]string{
+			"50": "Štedilniki",
+		},
+	}, "full", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "50" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want 50 (name coerced)", out.Category)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTryAICategorize_skippedWithoutTaxonomy(t *testing.T) {
+	calls := 0
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			calls++
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"A","description":"B"}`, TotalTokens: 2}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name: "Lone product",
+	}, "full", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want empty", out.Category)
+	}
+	// Only enhance should call Completer (categorize skips with no taxonomy).
+	if calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("completer calls=%d want 1 (enhance only)", calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeuristicCompleter_categorizeReturnsJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	h := HeuristicCompleter{}
+	user := ProductCategorizeUser("Stove", "Cooker", []categoryOption{
+		{UniqueID: "50", Name: "Štedilniki"},
+		{UniqueID: "28", Name: "TV"},
+	})
+	comp, err := h.Complete(context.Background(), ProductCategorizeSystem, user)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, err := ParseJSONObject(comp.Text)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got := categoryIDFromCategorizeJSON(obj)
+	if got != "50" && got != "28" {
+		t.Fatalf("categoryId=%q want 50 or 28 from Available Categories", got)
+	}
+	opts := categoryOptionsFromNames(map[string]string{"50": "Štedilniki", "28": "TV"})
+	found := false
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		if o.UniqueID == got {
+			found = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("categoryId=%q not in options", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCategoryOptionsFromNames_sortAndCap(t *testing.T) {
+	names := map[string]string{"2": "Beta", "1": "Alpha", "3": "Gamma"}
+	opts := categoryOptionsFromNames(names)
+	if len(opts) != 3 || opts[0].UniqueID != "1" || opts[1].UniqueID != "2" {
+		t.Fatalf("opts=%v", opts)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/openai.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/openai.go
index 03bfaee..e72648d 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/processing/openai.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/openai.go
@@ -644,6 +644,14 @@ func (h HeuristicCompleter) Complete(_ context.Context, system, user string) (Co
 	user = SanitizeText(user)
 	text := "General"
 	switch {
+	case strings.Contains(systemL, "categoryid") || (strings.Contains(systemL, "categor") && strings.Contains(systemL, "available categories")):
+		// Taxonomy pick: return first Available Categories (ID: …) from the user prompt.
+		id := firstAvailableCategoryIDFromPrompt(user)
+		if id == "" {
+			id = "unknown"
+		}
+		b, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"categoryId": id, "confidence": 0.5})
+		text = string(b)
 	case strings.Contains(systemL, `"name"`) || strings.Contains(systemL, "titles and descriptions"):
 		// Prefer explicit Name:/Desc: (ProductEnhanceUser) or Current name: labels.
 		// Never use firstLine(user) alone — that line is often "Category: …".
@@ -659,8 +667,6 @@ func (h HeuristicCompleter) Complete(_ context.Context, system, user string) (Co
 		text = string(b)
 	case strings.Contains(systemL, "attributes") && strings.Contains(systemL, "json"):
 		text = `{"material":"unknown","brand":"unknown"}`
-	case strings.Contains(systemL, "categor"):
-		text = "General"
 	default:
 		// Never echo ProductEnhanceUser's first line ("Category: …") as title/output.
 		text = labeledPromptValue(user, "name:", "current name:")
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go
index 9e8c3ed..8f4f03b 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go
@@ -1564,7 +1564,8 @@ func (p *Pipeline) processOne(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID uuid.UUID, i
 		engine = &Engine{Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{}}
 	}
 	policy := cache.stepPolicy()
-	result, err := engine.RunSteps(ctx, companyID.String(), in, processingType, nil, policy)
+	catNames := categoryUniqueIDsList(categoryNamesByUID)
+	result, err := engine.RunSteps(ctx, companyID.String(), in, processingType, catNames, policy)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, 0, StepResult{}, err
 	}
@@ -1644,6 +1645,13 @@ func (p *Pipeline) processOne(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID uuid.UUID, i
 		WHERE id = $1 AND company_id = $2`, it.RawID, companyID); err != nil {
 		return false, 0, result, err
 	}
+	// Stick taxonomy unique_id onto mapped_data.category when still empty so the
+	// Products UI (reads mapped) and reprocess keep the AI/vector/mapped pick.
+	if cat := strings.TrimSpace(result.Category); cat != "" {
+		if _, err := tx.Exec(ctx, persistMappedCategorySQL, it.RawID, companyID, cat); err != nil {
+			return false, 0, result, fmt.Errorf("persist mapped category: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
 	if err := tx.Commit(ctx); err != nil {
 		return false, 0, result, err
 	}
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/steps.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/steps.go
index af96225..cdecef3 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/processing/steps.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/steps.go
@@ -207,6 +207,10 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 			out.FieldSources["eprel"] = "eprel_api"
 			appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepEPREL, map[string]any{"status": "ok", "eprel_id": data.ID})
 
+		case StepCategorize:
+			// Vector (if enabled) then LLM taxonomy pick when category still empty.
+			runCategorizeStep(ctx, e, companyID, &out, in, categoryNames, policy)
+
 		case StepAIEnhance:
 			preservePriorEnhanceHash := func() {
 				if in.PriorEnhanceHash != "" {
@@ -501,11 +505,14 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Paths without fill_fields (enhance_only / normalize_only) still get vector
-	// categorize when AllowAI + embeddings are available.
-	tryVectorCategorize(ctx, e, companyID, &out, categoryNames, policy)
+	// Pipelines without StepCategorize (enhance_only / normalize_only) still try
+	// vector categorize when AllowAI + embeddings are available. Full/categorize
+	// already ran runCategorizeStep (vector then LLM) inside the loop.
+	if !stepsContain(steps, StepCategorize) {
+		tryVectorCategorize(ctx, e, companyID, &out, categoryNames, policy)
+		noteMissingCategory(&out, policy, e != nil && e.Vector != nil && e.Vector.Enabled())
+	}
 	preserveCategoryIfEmpty(&out, in.PriorCategory)
-	noteMissingCategory(&out, policy, e != nil && e.Vector != nil && e.Vector.Enabled())
 	syncCategoryName(&out, in.CategoryNamesByUID)
 	out.Name = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, out.Name, out.ProcessedName, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
 	out.ProcessedName = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, out.ProcessedName, out.Name, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name)
@@ -640,12 +647,14 @@ func tryVectorCategorize(ctx context.Context, e *Engine, companyID string, out *
 }
 
 // noteMissingCategory records why Category stayed empty (mapped absent; vector skipped or failed).
+// Used for pipelines that skip StepCategorize (vector-only post-pass).
 func noteMissingCategory(out *StepResult, policy StepPolicy, vectorEnabled bool) {
 	if out == nil || strings.TrimSpace(out.Category) != "" {
 		return
 	}
 	for _, n := range out.Notes {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(n, "category: unset") || strings.HasPrefix(n, "category: vector") {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(n, "category: unset") || strings.HasPrefix(n, "category: vector") ||
+			strings.HasPrefix(n, "category: llm") || strings.HasPrefix(n, "ai_categorize:") {
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -670,14 +679,25 @@ func resolveSteps(processingType string) []string {
 		return []string{StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepEPREL}
 	case "normalize_only":
 		return []string{StepNormalize}
-	case "categorize", "categorize_only", "categorize_enhance":
-		// Legacy aliases → full deterministic + optional AI
+	case "categorize", "categorize_only":
+		// Taxonomy assign only (vector then LLM) — no title/description rewrite.
+		return []string{StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepCategorize}
+	case "categorize_enhance":
 		return append([]string{}, CanonicalSteps...)
 	default: // full
 		return append([]string{}, CanonicalSteps...)
 	}
 }
 
+func stepsContain(steps []string, want string) bool {
+	for _, s := range steps {
+		if s == want {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // InitialStepProgress builds pending step_progress rows for a job.
 func InitialStepProgress(processingType string) []StepProgress {
 	steps := resolveSteps(processingType)
diff --git a/apps/api/internal/processing/steps_test.go b/apps/api/internal/processing/steps_test.go
index 4c5587e..b8e18f4 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/processing/steps_test.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/processing/steps_test.go
@@ -19,11 +19,14 @@ func (s stubCompleter) Complete(_ context.Context, system, user string) (Complet
 
 func TestResolveSteps(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string][]string{
-		"full":            {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepAIEnhance},
+		"full":            {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepCategorize, StepAIEnhance},
 		"enhance_only":    {StepNormalize, StepAIEnhance},
 		"attributes_only": {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields},
 		"eprel_only":      {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepEPREL},
 		"normalize_only":  {StepNormalize},
+		"categorize":      {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepCategorize},
+		"categorize_only": {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepCategorize},
+		"categorize_enhance": {StepNormalize, StepParseSpecs, StepFillFields, StepEPREL, StepCategorize, StepAIEnhance},
 	}
 	for in, want := range cases {
 		got := resolveSteps(in)
diff --git a/docs/features.md b/docs/features.md
index e4f4c24..bb484c9 100644
--- a/docs/features.md
+++ b/docs/features.md
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ Legend: `[x]` done · `[~]` partial/stub · `[ ]` missing
 
 ## Phase D — AI processing
 
-- [~] Pipeline workers: categorize → attributes → enhance (**stub** marks processed)
+- [x] Pipeline workers: categorize (vector + LLM taxonomy) → attributes → enhance
 - [~] Credits, rate limits, cancel/retry (credits + cancel yes; rate limits/retry incomplete)
-- [ ] OpenAI / Pinecone behind interfaces
+- [~] OpenAI / Pinecone behind interfaces (OpenAI + optional Pinecone; LLM categorize when category missing)
 - [~] Job controls UI (list/start/cancel basic; no admin visibility)
 
 ## Phase E — WooCommerce + admin / cutover
diff --git a/docs/live-pipeline.md b/docs/live-pipeline.md
index 94e30bb..9613ce5 100644
--- a/docs/live-pipeline.md
+++ b/docs/live-pipeline.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 ## Pipeline (canonical `full`)
 
 ```
-normalize -> parse_specs -> fill_fields -> eprel -> ai_enhance
+normalize -> parse_specs -> fill_fields -> eprel -> categorize -> ai_enhance
 ```
 
 | Step | Role |
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ normalize -> parse_specs -> fill_fields -> eprel -> ai_enhance
 | `parse_specs` | Parse `specifications` into attributes |
 | `fill_fields` | Fill missing scalars / standard fields |
 | `eprel` | Fetch EU energy label when `eprel_id` present + enricher on |
-| `ai_enhance` | Green Chat rewrite of name + description |
+| `categorize` | When mapped/prior category is empty: Pinecone vector (if configured), else LLM picks a **company taxonomy `unique_id`** from Available Categories (never invents). Persists to `processed_products.category` and empty `mapped_data.category`. |
+| `ai_enhance` | Green Chat rewrite of name + description (uses category formulas/overlays when set) |
 
 ## Prerequisites