diff --git a/src/app/api/ai/route.ts b/src/app/api/ai/route.ts
index 471605d..c799fcf 100644
--- a/src/app/api/ai/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/ai/route.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import { sql } from "@/db";
 
-const MINIMAX_API_KEY = "289bf7d1cf0c0b12ff5ccf48d95ff3c3";
-const MINIMAX_BASE_URL = "https://api.minimax.chat/v1";
+// Try Ollama first (local), fallback to MiniMax
+const OLLAMA_URL = process.env.OLLAMA_URL || "http://localhost:11434";
+const MINIMAX_API_KEY = process.env.MINIMAX_API_KEY || "289bf7d1cf0c0b12ff5ccf48d95ff3c3";
+const USE_MINIMAX = process.env.USE_MINIMAX === "true";
 
 export async function POST(request: Request) {
   try {
@@ -27,16 +29,36 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
       }
     }
 
-    // Build messages with system prompt
+    // System message
     const systemMessage = {
       role: "system",
-      content: `You are Tia, a helpful baby care assistant. ${context} Give caring, practical advice for new parents. Keep responses brief and helpful.`,
+      content: `You are Tia, a friendly baby care assistant. Give caring, practical advice for new parents. Keep responses brief and helpful.`,
     };
 
-    const allMessages = [systemMessage, ...messages];
+    // Try Ollama first
+    if (!USE_MINIMAX) {
+      try {
+        const response = await fetch(`${OLLAMA_URL}/api/chat`, {
+          method: "POST",
+          headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            model: "llama3",
+            messages: [systemMessage, ...messages],
+            stream: false,
+          }),
+        });
 
-    // Call MiniMax API directly
-    const response = await fetch(`${MINIMAX_BASE_URL}/text/chatcompletion_v2`, {
+        if (response.ok) {
+          const data = await response.json();
+          return NextResponse.json({ reply: data.message?.content || data.response });
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.log("Ollama not available:", e);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Fallback to MiniMax
+    const mmResponse = await fetch("https://api.minimax.chat/v1/text/chatcompletion_v2", {
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
@@ -45,24 +67,18 @@ export async function POST(request: Request) {
       body: JSON.stringify({
         model: "abab7.5-chat",
         group_id: "minimax",
-        messages: allMessages,
+        messages: [systemMessage, ...messages],
         max_tokens: 500,
       }),
     });
 
-    if (!response.ok) {
-      const error = await response.text();
-      return NextResponse.json({ error: "MiniMax error: " + error }, { status: response.status });
+    if (!mmResponse.ok) {
+      const error = await mmResponse.text();
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: "MiniMax: " + error }, { status: mmResponse.status });
     }
 
-    const data = await response.json();
-
-    // MiniMax response format
-    const reply = data.choices?.[0]?.message?.content
-      || data.choices?.[0]?.delta?.content
-      || "Sorry, I couldn't get a response.";
-
-    return NextResponse.json({ reply });
+    const data = await mmResponse.json();
+    return NextResponse.json({ reply: data.choices?.[0]?.message?.content || "No response" });
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(error);
     return NextResponse.json({ error: String(error) }, { status: 500 });