diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index d008c69..aed66d7 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ VITE_ENABLE_NEWSLETTER=true
 VITE_ENABLE_EVENTS=true
 VITE_ENABLE_BLOG=false
 
+# Optional chat API override
+# Default is same-origin /api/ai/chat via nginx proxy on the web container.
+# VITE_CHAT_API_BASE_URL=https://mim4u.org
+
 # Development
 VITE_DEV_MODE=true
-VITE_LOG_LEVEL=info
\ No newline at end of file
+VITE_LOG_LEVEL=info
diff --git a/.env.public.example b/.env.public.example
index 3ce6a65..b823ba5 100644
--- a/.env.public.example
+++ b/.env.public.example
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ VITE_ENABLE_AI_ASSISTANCE="true"
 VITE_ENABLE_ANALYTICS="true"
 VITE_ENABLE_MOBILE_APP="true"
 VITE_ENABLE_TRAINING="true"
+VITE_ENABLE_CHAT="true"
 
 # Performance Settings
 VITE_AI_BATCH_SIZE="5"
@@ -25,4 +26,4 @@ VITE_REQUEST_TIMEOUT="30000"
 # - Server-side environment variables
 # - Secure credential management systems
 # - Runtime configuration APIs
-# Never commit API keys, passwords, or tokens to version control
\ No newline at end of file
+# Never commit API keys, passwords, or tokens to version control