diff --git a/src/hooks/useEditorSave.test.ts b/src/hooks/useEditorSave.test.ts
index 59674ae5..897de224 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useEditorSave.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useEditorSave.test.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,22 @@ describe('useEditorSave', () => {
     // (We'll check via the next handleSave call)
   })
 
+  it('handleContentChange syncs content to tab state immediately', () => {
+    const { result } = renderSaveHook()
+
+    act(() => {
+      result.current.handleContentChange('/test/note.md', '---\ntitle: T\n---\n\n# T\n\nLive edits')
+    })
+
+    // setTabs must be called on every content change (not just on save)
+    // so that consumers like the AI panel see current editor content
+    expect(setTabs).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    const updater = setTabs.mock.calls[0][0]
+    const tabs = [{ entry: { path: '/test/note.md' }, content: 'stale' }]
+    const updated = updater(tabs)
+    expect(updated[0].content).toBe('---\ntitle: T\n---\n\n# T\n\nLive edits')
+  })
+
   it('save updates tab content with edited body, not original (regression)', async () => {
     const { result } = renderSaveHook()
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useEditorSave.ts b/src/hooks/useEditorSave.ts
index a179e1ac..066781ea 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useEditorSave.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useEditorSave.ts
@@ -66,10 +66,14 @@ export function useEditorSave({ updateVaultContent, setTabs, setToastMessage, on
     }
   }, [flushPending, setToastMessage, onAfterSave, saveNote, onNotePersisted])
 
-  /** Called by Editor onChange — buffers the latest content without saving */
+  /** Called by Editor onChange — buffers the latest content and syncs tab state
+   *  so consumers (e.g. AI panel) always see current editor content. */
   const handleContentChange = useCallback((path: string, content: string) => {
     pendingContentRef.current = { path, content }
-  }, [])
+    setTabs((prev: Tab[]) =>
+      prev.map((t) => t.entry.path === path ? { ...t, content } : t)
+    )
+  }, [setTabs])
 
   /** Save pending content for a specific path (used before rename) */
   const savePendingForPath = useCallback(