diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/research.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/research.test.ts
index f772324785..7da3fc0e14 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/research.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/research.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,22 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+/*
+FNXC:CliQuietMode 2026-07-25-09:05:
+JSON and other result-bearing CLI output uses `result()` (raw stdout), not
+console.log, so quiet mode can suppress chatter without dropping payloads.
+Capture that seam instead of expecting log spies to see JSON.
+*/
+const resultSpy = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+vi.mock("../../output.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../../output.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    result: (text: string) => {
+      resultSpy(text);
+    },
+  };
+});
+
 import { runResearchCancel, runResearchCreate, runResearchExport, runResearchList, runResearchRetry, runResearchShow } from "../research.js";
 
 function makeConstructibleMock<T extends (...args: any[]) => unknown>(impl?: T) {
@@ -116,6 +134,7 @@ describe("research commands", () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    resultSpy.mockClear();
     process.exit = vi.fn(((code?: number) => {
       throw new Error(`process.exit:${code ?? 0}`);
     }) as typeof process.exit);
@@ -156,7 +175,7 @@ describe("research commands", () => {
 
   it("lists runs as json", async () => {
     await runResearchList({ json: true, status: "completed", limit: 3 });
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"runs"'));
+    expect(resultSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"runs"'));
     expect(researchStoreMock.listRuns).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: "completed", limit: 3 });
   });
 
@@ -175,7 +194,7 @@ describe("research commands", () => {
     await runResearchList({ json: true, status: "completed", limit: 3 });
 
     expect(asyncStore.listRuns).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: "completed", limit: 3 });
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"runs"'));
+    expect(resultSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"runs"'));
   });
 
   it("rejects invalid list status", async () => {
@@ -212,14 +231,14 @@ describe("research commands", () => {
   it("cancels a run", async () => {
     await runResearchCancel("RR-001", { json: true });
     expect(orchestratorMock.cancelRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith("RR-001");
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"cancelled"'));
+    expect(resultSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"cancelled"'));
   });
 
   it("retries a run", async () => {
     researchStoreMock.getRun.mockImplementation((id: string) => (id === "RR-003" ? { ...mockRun, id: "RR-003", status: "queued" } : { ...mockRun, status: "failed" }));
     await runResearchRetry("RR-001", { json: true });
     expect(orchestratorMock.retryRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith("RR-001");
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"retryOf"'));
+    expect(resultSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('"retryOf"'));
   });
 
   it("errors when research is disabled", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/task.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/task.test.ts
index 722592eff9..c7a701fd65 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/task.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/task.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
 
+/*
+FNXC:CliQuietMode 2026-07-25-09:05:
+Task create/link success lines use `result()` so they survive quiet mode.
+Capture that seam for assertions that previously spied console.log.
+*/
+const resultSpy = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+vi.mock("../../output.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../../output.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    result: (text: string) => {
+      resultSpy(text);
+    },
+  };
+});
+
 // Mock node:readline/promises before importing the module under test
 vi.mock("node:readline/promises", () => ({
   createInterface: vi.fn(),
@@ -680,9 +696,9 @@ describe("project-aware task command behavior", () => {
   });
 
   it("runTaskCreate links existing task on deterministic duplicate", async () => {
-    const logSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
     const existing = makeTask({ id: "FN-777", description: "same task", column: "todo" });
     const mockCreateTask = vi.fn();
+    resultSpy.mockClear();
 
     vi.mocked(runDeterministicDuplicateGuard).mockResolvedValue({
       action: "duplicate",
@@ -702,8 +718,7 @@ describe("project-aware task command behavior", () => {
     await runTaskCreate("same task");
 
     expect(mockCreateTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(logSpy.mock.calls.some((call) => String(call[0]).includes("Linked existing FN-777"))).toBe(true);
-    logSpy.mockRestore();
+    expect(resultSpy.mock.calls.some((call) => String(call[0]).includes("Linked existing FN-777"))).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it("runTaskCreate proceeds when no high-signal tokens are present", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/update.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/update.test.ts
index 4f7b86fae9..d8299046f2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/update.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/__tests__/update.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import { beforeEach, afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-const { execAsyncMock, existsSyncMock, readFileSyncMock, getCachedUpdateStatusMock, getConfiguredUpdateChannelMock, persistUpdateChannelMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+/*
+FNXC:CliQuietMode 2026-07-25-09:05:
+`fn update --json` writes through `result()` (raw stdout) so quiet mode cannot
+drop machine-readable payloads. Capture that seam instead of console.log.
+*/
+const { execAsyncMock, existsSyncMock, readFileSyncMock, getCachedUpdateStatusMock, getConfiguredUpdateChannelMock, persistUpdateChannelMock, resultSpy } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   execAsyncMock: vi.fn<(...args: unknown[]) => Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }>>(),
   existsSyncMock: vi.fn<(path: string) => boolean>(),
   readFileSyncMock: vi.fn<(path: string, encoding: BufferEncoding) => string>(),
@@ -12,8 +17,19 @@ const { execAsyncMock, existsSyncMock, readFileSyncMock, getCachedUpdateStatusMo
   } | null>(),
   getConfiguredUpdateChannelMock: vi.fn<() => Promise<"stable" | "beta">>(),
   persistUpdateChannelMock: vi.fn<(channel: "stable" | "beta") => Promise<void>>(),
+  resultSpy: vi.fn<(text: string) => void>(),
 }));
 
+vi.mock("../../output.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import("../../output.js")>();
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    result: (text: string) => {
+      resultSpy(text);
+    },
+  };
+});
+
 vi.mock("node:child_process", async () => {
   const { promisify } = await import("node:util");
   const execFn: Record<PropertyKey, unknown> = vi.fn();
@@ -47,6 +63,7 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    resultSpy.mockClear();
     process.exitCode = 0;
 
     existsSyncMock.mockImplementation((path: string) => path.endsWith("package.json"));
@@ -103,7 +120,7 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
 
     await runUpdate({ json: true });
 
-    const output = logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
+    const output = resultSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
     const parsed = JSON.parse(output) as {
       currentVersion: string;
       latestVersion: string;
@@ -272,11 +289,12 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
       vi.stubGlobal("fetch", vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ json: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ "dist-tags": { latest: testCase.latest } }) }));
       readFileSyncMock.mockReturnValueOnce(JSON.stringify({ name: "@runfusion/fusion", version: testCase.current }));
       logSpy.mockClear();
+      resultSpy.mockClear();
       process.exitCode = 0;
 
       await runUpdate({ check: true, json: true });
 
-      const output = logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
+      const output = resultSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
       expect(JSON.parse(output), `${testCase.latest} vs ${testCase.current}`).toMatchObject({
         currentVersion: testCase.current,
         latestVersion: testCase.latest,
@@ -297,11 +315,12 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
         latestVersion,
       });
       logSpy.mockClear();
+      resultSpy.mockClear();
       process.exitCode = 0;
 
       await runUpdate({ check: true, json: true });
 
-      const output = logSpy.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0] as string;
+      const output = resultSpy.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0] as string;
       expect(JSON.parse(output)).toMatchObject({
         currentVersion: "1.2.3",
         latestVersion,
@@ -361,7 +380,7 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
 
       await runUpdate({ check: true, json: true });
 
-      const parsed = JSON.parse(logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(resultSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(parsed).toMatchObject({ latestVersion: "1.3.0-beta.2", updateAvailable: true, channel: "beta" });
       expect(process.exitCode).toBe(1);
     });
@@ -371,7 +390,7 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
 
       await runUpdate({ check: true, json: true });
 
-      const parsed = JSON.parse(logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(resultSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
       expect(parsed).toMatchObject({ latestVersion: "1.2.3", updateAvailable: false, channel: "stable" });
       expect(process.exitCode).toBe(0);
     });
@@ -462,11 +481,12 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
       expect(logSpy.mock.calls.flat().join("\n")).not.toContain("A newer beta");
 
       logSpy.mockClear();
+      resultSpy.mockClear();
       process.exitCode = 0;
       vi.stubGlobal("fetch", vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ json: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ "dist-tags": { latest: "1.2.3", beta: "1.3.0-beta.1" } }) }));
       await runUpdate({ check: true, json: true });
 
-      const output = logSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
+      const output = resultSpy.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as string;
       expect(JSON.parse(output)).toEqual({
         currentVersion: "1.2.3",
         latestVersion: "1.2.3",
@@ -475,6 +495,7 @@ describe("runUpdate", () => {
         channel: "stable",
       });
       expect(logSpy.mock.calls.flat().join("\n")).not.toContain("A newer beta");
+      expect(resultSpy.mock.calls.flat().join("\n")).not.toContain("A newer beta");
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/settings/sections/__tests__/settings-default-descriptions.test.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/settings/sections/__tests__/settings-default-descriptions.test.tsx
index 25171b3f15..0f0db08bca 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/settings/sections/__tests__/settings-default-descriptions.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/settings/sections/__tests__/settings-default-descriptions.test.tsx
@@ -318,6 +318,13 @@ const NOT_SURFACED_ALLOWLIST: Record<string, string> = {
   ephemeralAgentsCanCreateTasks: "legacy compatibility input replaced by ephemeralAgentTaskCreationPolicy",
   // Global-only serve/dashboard LAN discovery switch; no Settings UI description field exists.
   localNetworkDiscoveryEnabled: "global-only LAN discovery runtime switch",
+  /*
+  FNXC:VoiceInput 2026-07-25-09:05:
+  Nested Voice Input settings object. DEFAULT_SETTINGS stores voiceInput as undefined
+  (opt-in object); the VoiceInputSection enable toggle documents Default: off for the
+  nested enabled flag rather than a top-level plain description field.
+  */
+  voiceInput: "nested Voice Input section object; enable toggle owns Default: off for voiceInput.enabled",
   // Moved to workflow settings (U4) — see MOVED_SETTINGS_KEYS in settings-schema.ts.
   workflowStepTimeoutMs: "moved to workflow settings (U4)",
   workflowStepScopeEnforcement: "moved to workflow settings (U4)",
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/en/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/en/app.json
index 266d896e9e..a2ed6bf770 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/en/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/en/app.json
@@ -6390,7 +6390,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "Configuration Versions"
+      "configVersions": "Configuration Versions",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "Block execution",
@@ -6896,6 +6897,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "Roll back configuration?",
       "confirmMessage": "Restore this version? The rollback is recorded as a new version.",
       "confirmRollback": "Roll back"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/es/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/es/app.json
index 441599e765..c9d2950996 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/es/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/es/app.json
@@ -6366,7 +6366,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "Versiones de configuración"
+      "configVersions": "Versiones de configuración",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "",
@@ -6886,6 +6887,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "¿Revertir la configuración?",
       "confirmMessage": "¿Restaurar esta versión? La reversión se registra como una nueva versión.",
       "confirmRollback": "Revertir"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/fr/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/fr/app.json
index ed80b726aa..08574358b4 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/fr/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/fr/app.json
@@ -6366,7 +6366,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "Versions de configuration"
+      "configVersions": "Versions de configuration",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "",
@@ -6886,6 +6887,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "Revenir à une configuration antérieure ?",
       "confirmMessage": "Restaurer cette version ? Le retour est enregistré comme une nouvelle version.",
       "confirmRollback": "Revenir en arrière"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/ko/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/ko/app.json
index fb560f7fbf..a964df5dca 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/ko/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/ko/app.json
@@ -6366,7 +6366,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "구성 버전"
+      "configVersions": "구성 버전",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "",
@@ -6886,6 +6887,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "구성을 롤백할까요?",
       "confirmMessage": "이 버전을 복원할까요? 롤백은 새 버전으로 기록됩니다.",
       "confirmRollback": "롤백"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/zh-CN/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/zh-CN/app.json
index df9298dbac..8168d49818 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/zh-CN/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/zh-CN/app.json
@@ -6366,7 +6366,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "配置版本"
+      "configVersions": "配置版本",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "",
@@ -6886,6 +6887,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "回滚配置？",
       "confirmMessage": "恢复此版本？回滚会记录为新版本。",
       "confirmRollback": "回滚"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {
diff --git a/packages/i18n/locales/zh-TW/app.json b/packages/i18n/locales/zh-TW/app.json
index 50251fb097..1ae5a4f780 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/locales/zh-TW/app.json
+++ b/packages/i18n/locales/zh-TW/app.json
@@ -6366,7 +6366,8 @@
       },
       "globalMcp": "MCP Servers · Global",
       "mcp": "MCP Servers · Project",
-      "configVersions": "設定版本"
+      "configVersions": "設定版本",
+      "voiceInput": "Voice Input"
     },
     "nodeRouting": {
       "blockExecution": "",
@@ -6886,6 +6887,25 @@
       "confirmTitle": "回滾設定？",
       "confirmMessage": "還原此版本？回滾會記錄為新版本。",
       "confirmRollback": "回滾"
+    },
+    "voiceInput": {
+      "title": "Voice Input",
+      "enable": "Enable voice input",
+      "enableHelp": "Default: off. Voice dictation uses the operator-managed Parakeet v3 model.",
+      "modelStatus": "Parakeet v3 model status",
+      "modelStatusHelp": "The speech model is installed and managed locally on this device.",
+      "modelActions": "Model management",
+      "modelActionsHelp": "Download or remove the Parakeet v3 speech model.",
+      "statusUnavailable": "Voice runtime status could not be determined; voice mode stays disabled.",
+      "runtimeUnavailable": "Voice runtime unavailable",
+      "unknown": "Status unavailable",
+      "downloading": "Downloading model…",
+      "downloadingProgress": "Downloading: {{progress}}%",
+      "installed": "Installed",
+      "notInstalled": "Not installed",
+      "download": "Download",
+      "remove": "Remove",
+      "error": "Model error: {{message}}"
     }
   },
   "setup": {