coworker picker: 'Use temporary folder' copy; retire Chat persona

Chat ships disabled+unsurfaced (Coworker covers quick Q&A); recoverable from Settings.

coworker/personas/registry.py

@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ class PersonaEntry:
     default_surfaced: bool = (
         True  # whether it shows in the picker before any user choice
     )
+    # Whether it ships enabled before any user choice. Builtins default on (UX-029: the
+    # composer picker is their front door) — except retired ones (Chat: Coworker covers
+    # quick Q&A). Installed third-party personas always start disabled pending consent.
+    default_enabled: bool = True
     _builder: Optional[Callable[[], Agent]] = None
     manifest: Optional[PersonaManifest] = None
 
@@ -101,6 +105,7 @@ class PersonaRegistry:
         tools,
         workspace="deliverable",
         default_surfaced=True,
+        default_enabled=True,
     ) -> None:
         self._entries[id] = PersonaEntry(
             id=id,
@@ -113,13 +118,14 @@ class PersonaRegistry:
             workspace=workspace,
             tools=list(tools),
             default_surfaced=default_surfaced,
+            default_enabled=default_enabled,
             _builder=builder,
         )
 
     def _load_builtin(self, builtin_dir: Optional[str | Path]) -> None:
         # Core surfaces keep their exact prompts via the existing builders. Cowork (the default)
-        # leads; Chat is hidden from the picker by default (Cowork covers quick Q&A) — recoverable
+        # leads; Chat is RETIRED (owner call 2026-08-11: Coworker covers quick Q&A) — it ships
-        # from the Personas tab.
+        # disabled and unsurfaced, recoverable from Settings ▸ Coworkers.
         self._register_builder(
             "cowork",
             "OpenWorker",
@@ -153,6 +159,7 @@ class PersonaRegistry:
             [],
             workspace="none",
             default_surfaced=False,
+            default_enabled=False,
         )
         # Markdown-backed built-ins (Ops, …) — dogfood the manifest path.
         d = Path(builtin_dir) if builtin_dir else Path(__file__).parent / "builtin"
@@ -219,15 +226,16 @@ class PersonaRegistry:
         return self._entries.get(persona_id)
 
     def is_enabled(self, persona_id: str) -> bool:
-        # Explicit state (either way) always wins. Absent a user choice, BUILT-IN personas
+        # Explicit state (either way) always wins. Absent a user choice, the entry's
-        # ship enabled — the composer picker is their front door (UX-029, supersedes the
+        # default applies: builtins ship enabled — the composer picker is their front door
-        # 2026-07-09 Coworker-only default that fit the old hidden ▾ menu). Installed
+        # (UX-029, supersedes the 2026-07-09 Coworker-only default that fit the old hidden
-        # third-party personas stay disabled until the user consents from the risk screen.
+        # ▾ menu) — except retired ones (Chat). Installed third-party personas stay
+        # disabled until the user consents from the risk screen.
         if persona_id in self._enabled:
             return bool(self._enabled[persona_id])
         entry = self._entries.get(persona_id)
         if entry is not None and entry.builtin:
-            return True
+            return entry.default_enabled
         return persona_id == self._default or persona_id == DEFAULT_PERSONA_ID
 
     def is_surfaced(self, persona_id: str) -> bool:

surfaces/gui/e2e/fixtures.ts

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ const PERSONAS = {
   personas: [
     { id: "cowork", name: "OpenWorker", icon: "cowork", tagline: "Produce a deliverable — research, analysis, scripts", needs_workspace: true, builtin: true, family: "knowledge", workspace: "deliverable", tools: ["files", "search"], enabled: true, surfaced: true, default: true },
     { id: "code", name: "Code", icon: "code", tagline: "Work in a codebase — files, git, shell", needs_workspace: true, builtin: true, family: "code", workspace: "git", tools: ["code_files", "git"], enabled: true, surfaced: true, default: false },
-    { id: "chat", name: "Chat", icon: "chat", tagline: "Quick questions — no workspace", needs_workspace: false, builtin: true, family: "knowledge", workspace: "none", tools: [], enabled: true, surfaced: false, default: false },
+    { id: "chat", name: "Chat", icon: "chat", tagline: "Quick questions — no workspace", needs_workspace: false, builtin: true, family: "knowledge", workspace: "none", tools: [], enabled: false, surfaced: false, default: false },
     { id: "ops", name: "Ops Coworker", icon: "wrench", tagline: "Operate and investigate — runbooks, logs, infrastructure", needs_workspace: true, builtin: true, family: "knowledge", workspace: "deliverable", tools: ["files", "shell"], enabled: true, surfaced: true, default: false },
     // A non-builtin install (disabled pending consent — invisible to picker specs) so the
     // Personas page's delete/enable affordances have a target.

surfaces/gui/src/components/SendFolderDialog.tsx

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export function SendFolderDialog({ coworkerName, onPick, onTemp, onCancel }: Pro
             }}
             disabled={busy}
           >
-            Start in a temporary folder
+            Use temporary folder
           </button>
         </div>
         {error && <div className="mt-2 text-[11.5px] text-warnInk">{error}</div>}

tests/test_persona_registry.py

@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ def test_sidebar_defaults_to_surfaced_builtins(tmp_path):
     assert "code" not in [e["name"] for e in reg.sidebar()]
 
 
-def test_chat_hidden_by_default_but_resolvable(tmp_path):
+def test_chat_retired_by_default_but_resolvable(tmp_path):
     reg = _reg(tmp_path)
-    assert reg.is_surfaced("chat") is False  # default-hidden from the grouped nav
+    # Chat is retired (owner call 2026-08-11): disabled + unsurfaced out of the box,
-    assert reg.is_enabled("chat") is True  # builtins ship enabled (UX-029)
+    # unlike the other builtins — Coworker covers quick Q&A.
+    assert reg.is_enabled("chat") is False
+    assert reg.is_surfaced("chat") is False
     assert reg.agent("chat").name == "chat"  # live sessions keep resolving
-    # Surfacing it adds it to the sidebar picker too.
+    # Still recoverable from Settings ▸ Coworkers (enable implies surface).
-    reg.set_surfaced("chat", True)
+    reg.set_enabled("chat", True)
     assert "chat" in [e["name"] for e in reg.sidebar()]