diff --git a/app/Models/Transaction.php b/app/Models/Transaction.php
index 4728207c..b3def01d 100644
--- a/app/Models/Transaction.php
+++ b/app/Models/Transaction.php
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\SoftDeletes;
  * @property ?CategorySource $category_source
  * @property ?float $ai_confidence
  * @property ?string $categorized_by_rule_id
+ * @property ?string $ai_suggested_category_id
+ * @property ?Carbon $ai_suggested_category_at
  */
 class Transaction extends Model
 {
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ class Transaction extends Model
         'category_source',
         'ai_confidence',
         'categorized_by_rule_id',
+        'ai_suggested_category_id',
+        'ai_suggested_category_at',
         'description',
         'description_iv',
         'original_description',
@@ -86,6 +90,7 @@ class Transaction extends Model
             'source' => TransactionSource::class,
             'category_source' => CategorySource::class,
             'ai_confidence' => 'float',
+            'ai_suggested_category_at' => 'datetime',
             'raw_data' => 'array',
         ];
     }
@@ -114,6 +119,12 @@ class Transaction extends Model
         return $this->belongsTo(AutomationRule::class, 'categorized_by_rule_id');
     }
 
+    /** @return BelongsTo<Category, $this> */
+    public function suggestedCategory(): BelongsTo
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(Category::class, 'ai_suggested_category_id');
+    }
+
     /**
      * Whether AI assigned this transaction's category — either directly or via an
      * AI-owned rule. Not appended by default; surfaces opt in (e.g. the index
diff --git a/app/Services/Ai/CategorizeTransactions.php b/app/Services/Ai/CategorizeTransactions.php
index 14b090b0..b36c2137 100644
--- a/app/Services/Ai/CategorizeTransactions.php
+++ b/app/Services/Ai/CategorizeTransactions.php
@@ -62,9 +62,7 @@ class CategorizeTransactions
             $confidence = (float) ($result['confidence'] ?? 0.0);
             $applied = $confidence >= $labelBar;
 
-            if ($applied) {
-                $this->applyLabel($transaction, $categoryId, $confidence);
-            }
+            $this->recordOutcome($transaction, $categoryId, $confidence, $applied);
 
             $outcomes[] = new CategorizationOutcome(
                 transaction: $transaction,
@@ -78,11 +76,23 @@ class CategorizeTransactions
         return $outcomes;
     }
 
-    private function applyLabel(Transaction $transaction, string $categoryId, float $confidence): void
+    /**
+     * Persist the model's suggestion on the transaction whether or not it clears
+     * the label bar. Below the bar the transaction stays uncategorized but the
+     * suggestion is kept (for confidence-bar tuning and a future confirm UI);
+     * at or above it the category is also auto-applied.
+     */
+    private function recordOutcome(Transaction $transaction, string $categoryId, float $confidence, bool $applied): void
     {
-        $transaction->category_id = $categoryId;
-        $transaction->category_source = CategorySource::Ai;
+        $transaction->ai_suggested_category_id = $categoryId;
         $transaction->ai_confidence = $confidence;
+        $transaction->ai_suggested_category_at = now();
+
+        if ($applied) {
+            $transaction->category_id = $categoryId;
+            $transaction->category_source = CategorySource::Ai;
+        }
+
         $transaction->save();
     }
 
diff --git a/database/migrations/2026_06_17_081319_add_ai_suggested_category_to_transactions_table.php b/database/migrations/2026_06_17_081319_add_ai_suggested_category_to_transactions_table.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd0a8f46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/2026_06_17_081319_add_ai_suggested_category_to_transactions_table.php
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<?php
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    /**
+     * Run the migrations.
+     */
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('transactions', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->foreignUuid('ai_suggested_category_id')
+                ->nullable()
+                ->after('categorized_by_rule_id')
+                ->constrained('categories')
+                ->nullOnDelete();
+            $table->timestamp('ai_suggested_category_at')
+                ->nullable()
+                ->after('ai_suggested_category_id');
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reverse the migrations.
+     */
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('transactions', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->dropConstrainedForeignId('ai_suggested_category_id');
+            $table->dropColumn('ai_suggested_category_at');
+        });
+    }
+};
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Ai/CategorizeTransactionsTest.php b/tests/Feature/Ai/CategorizeTransactionsTest.php
index e8a27cf7..08951f3c 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Ai/CategorizeTransactionsTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Ai/CategorizeTransactionsTest.php
@@ -67,12 +67,14 @@ it('auto-applies the category when confidence clears the label bar', function ()
     expect($transaction->category_id)->toBe($category->id)
         ->and($transaction->category_source)->toBe(CategorySource::Ai)
         ->and($transaction->ai_confidence)->toEqual(0.95)
+        ->and($transaction->ai_suggested_category_id)->toBe($category->id)
+        ->and($transaction->ai_suggested_category_at)->not->toBeNull()
         ->and($outcomes)->toHaveCount(1)
         ->and($outcomes[0]->applied)->toBeTrue()
         ->and($outcomes[0]->merchantUnambiguous)->toBeTrue();
 });
 
-it('leaves the transaction blank when confidence is below the label bar', function () {
+it('leaves the transaction blank but records the suggestion when confidence is below the label bar', function () {
     $user = User::factory()->create();
     $category = groceries($user);
     $transaction = uncategorized($user);
@@ -94,6 +96,9 @@ it('leaves the transaction blank when confidence is below the label bar', functi
 
     expect($transaction->category_id)->toBeNull()
         ->and($transaction->category_source)->toBeNull()
+        ->and($transaction->ai_suggested_category_id)->toBe($category->id)
+        ->and($transaction->ai_confidence)->toEqual(0.5)
+        ->and($transaction->ai_suggested_category_at)->not->toBeNull()
         ->and($outcomes)->toHaveCount(1)
         ->and($outcomes[0]->applied)->toBeFalse();
 });