diff --git a/apps/cockpit/scripts/manual-spec-freshness.spec.ts b/apps/cockpit/scripts/manual-spec-freshness.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df647cdec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/cockpit/scripts/manual-spec-freshness.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+//
+// Tripwire for the `*.manual.ts` tier.
+//
+// Manual specs are live-LLM checks a human runs by hand: every cockpit
+// playwright config matches `**/*.spec.ts`, so nothing executes these and CI
+// can never notice when they drift. When this guard was written, 10 of 34 were
+// asserting UI copy that existed nowhere in the repo — panel headings that had
+// been renamed, and empty-state strings from sidebars that no longer exist.
+//
+// Running the specs themselves in CI isn't viable (real model, per-example dev
+// server). What IS cheap is checking that everything they assert still exists
+// in the source. That catches the rot this tier actually suffers — stale copy
+// and dropped selectors — without booting anything.
+import { readFileSync, readdirSync, statSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join, resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+const REPO_ROOT = resolve(__dirname, '../../..');
+const SKIP_DIRS = new Set(['node_modules', 'dist', '.angular', '.venv', '.next', 'coverage']);
+
+function walk(dir: string, out: string[] = []): string[] {
+  let entries;
+  try {
+    entries = readdirSync(dir, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch {
+    return out;
+  }
+  for (const entry of entries) {
+    if (entry.isDirectory()) {
+      if (!SKIP_DIRS.has(entry.name)) walk(join(dir, entry.name), out);
+    } else {
+      out.push(join(dir, entry.name));
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+const allFiles = walk(join(REPO_ROOT, 'cockpit')).concat(walk(join(REPO_ROOT, 'libs')));
+const manualSpecs = allFiles.filter((f) => f.endsWith('.manual.ts'));
+
+/** Every source file a manual spec could legitimately be asserting against. */
+const sourceCorpus = allFiles
+  .filter((f) => /\.(ts|html|css)$/.test(f) && !f.endsWith('.manual.ts'))
+  .map((f) => {
+    try {
+      return readFileSync(f, 'utf8');
+    } catch {
+      return '';
+    }
+  })
+  .join('\n');
+
+/** `text=Some copy` and `getByText('Some copy')` assertions. */
+function assertedText(spec: string): string[] {
+  const out = new Set<string>();
+  for (const m of spec.matchAll(/text=([^'"`)]{4,80})/g)) out.add(m[1].trim());
+  for (const m of spec.matchAll(/getByText\(\s*['"]([^'"]{4,80})['"]/g)) out.add(m[1].trim());
+  return [...out];
+}
+
+/** `page.locator('some-element')` custom-element selectors. */
+function assertedSelectors(spec: string): string[] {
+  const out = new Set<string>();
+  for (const m of spec.matchAll(/locator\(\s*['"]([a-z][a-z0-9]*(?:-[a-z0-9]+)+)['"]/g)) out.add(m[1]);
+  return [...out];
+}
+
+describe('manual e2e specs stay in sync with the source', () => {
+  it('finds the manual tier', () => {
+    // Guards the guard: if the glob ever stops matching, every assertion below
+    // would pass over an empty list and this file would be worthless.
+    expect(manualSpecs.length).toBeGreaterThan(20);
+  });
+
+  it.each(manualSpecs.map((f) => [f.slice(REPO_ROOT.length + 1), f]))(
+    '%s asserts only text that still exists',
+    (_label, file) => {
+      const spec = readFileSync(file, 'utf8');
+      const missing = assertedText(spec).filter((t) => !sourceCorpus.includes(t));
+      expect(missing, `copy asserted by this manual spec no longer exists anywhere in the repo`).toEqual([]);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it.each(manualSpecs.map((f) => [f.slice(REPO_ROOT.length + 1), f]))(
+    '%s targets only selectors that still exist',
+    (_label, file) => {
+      const spec = readFileSync(file, 'utf8');
+      const missing = assertedSelectors(spec).filter((s) => !sourceCorpus.includes(s));
+      expect(missing, `element selectors targeted by this manual spec no longer exist`).toEqual([]);
+    },
+  );
+});
diff --git a/cockpit/ag-ui/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts b/cockpit/ag-ui/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
index 6bbc1bad8..2e997ed6e 100644
--- a/cockpit/ag-ui/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/ag-ui/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ test.describe('AG-UI Interrupts Example', () => {
     await page.waitForSelector('app-interrupts', { state: 'attached' });
   });
 
-  test('renders the chat interface with approvals sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('renders the chat interface with refund suggestions', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=No pending approvals')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Refund a duplicate charge')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/filesystem/angular/e2e/manual/filesystem.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/filesystem/angular/e2e/manual/filesystem.manual.ts
index b300259c0..6d192e231 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/filesystem/angular/e2e/manual/filesystem.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/filesystem/angular/e2e/manual/filesystem.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Filesystem Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with file operations sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Ask the agent to read or write a file.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No file operations yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
index 8e2f6d1a2..21d64cec6 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Memory Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with memory sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Tell the agent something about yourself to see it remember.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No facts learned yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/planning/angular/e2e/manual/planning.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/planning/angular/e2e/manual/planning.manual.ts
index 608bd516f..e90e4bdc9 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/planning/angular/e2e/manual/planning.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/planning/angular/e2e/manual/planning.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Planning Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with plan sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Ask a complex question to see the plan.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No plan yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/sandboxes/angular/e2e/manual/sandboxes.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/sandboxes/angular/e2e/manual/sandboxes.manual.ts
index a0a70b7ec..f177b6e36 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/sandboxes/angular/e2e/manual/sandboxes.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/sandboxes/angular/e2e/manual/sandboxes.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Sandboxes Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with execution log sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Ask the agent to write and run Python code.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No code executed yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/skills/angular/e2e/manual/skills.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/skills/angular/e2e/manual/skills.manual.ts
index 48fe4f979..05fd2b405 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/skills/angular/e2e/manual/skills.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/skills/angular/e2e/manual/skills.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Skills Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with skill invocation sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Ask the agent to calculate, count words, or summarize text.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No skills invoked yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/deep-agents/subagents/angular/e2e/manual/subagents.manual.ts b/cockpit/deep-agents/subagents/angular/e2e/manual/subagents.manual.ts
index 772857d66..7cfa4d1e2 100644
--- a/cockpit/deep-agents/subagents/angular/e2e/manual/subagents.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/deep-agents/subagents/angular/e2e/manual/subagents.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Deep Agents Subagents Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with subagents sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Ask a question to see subagent activity.')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=No delegations yet')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/langgraph/durable-execution/angular/e2e/manual/durable-execution.manual.ts b/cockpit/langgraph/durable-execution/angular/e2e/manual/durable-execution.manual.ts
index 5c943f59e..e8b2cd8ec 100644
--- a/cockpit/langgraph/durable-execution/angular/e2e/manual/durable-execution.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/langgraph/durable-execution/angular/e2e/manual/durable-execution.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('LangGraph Durable Execution Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with execution status sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Execution Status')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Pipeline')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/langgraph/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts b/cockpit/langgraph/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
index 7025339c5..847728aa6 100644
--- a/cockpit/langgraph/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/langgraph/interrupts/angular/e2e/manual/interrupts.manual.ts
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ test.describe('LangGraph Interrupts Example', () => {
     await page.waitForSelector('app-interrupts', { state: 'attached' });
   });
 
-  test('renders the chat interface with approvals sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('renders the chat interface with refund suggestions', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=No pending approvals')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Refund a duplicate charge')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/cockpit/langgraph/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts b/cockpit/langgraph/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
index 6b76ca5da..5222c4b99 100644
--- a/cockpit/langgraph/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
+++ b/cockpit/langgraph/memory/angular/e2e/manual/memory.manual.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test.describe('LangGraph Memory Example', () => {
   test('renders the chat interface with memory sidebar', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('chat')).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.locator('textarea[name="messageText"]')).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.locator('text=Agent Memory')).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Learned Facts')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('sends a message and receives a response', async ({ page }) => {