diff --git a/apps/web/src/instant-agent-create.ts b/apps/web/src/instant-agent-create.ts
index da8be86f2..3b3071248 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/instant-agent-create.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/instant-agent-create.ts
@@ -119,9 +119,7 @@ export async function createWorkbenchFromTemplate(
       : ((await fetchWorkbenchTemplateManifest(tenantId, templateId)) ??
         undefined);
   if (templateId !== "blank" && manifest === undefined) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `This bench can't set up a ${templateId} workbench yet — it isn't in the library.`,
-    );
+    throw new Error(`A ${templateId} workbench isn't available here yet.`);
   }
   const requiresGithub =
     manifest?.requiredConnections.includes("github") ?? false;
diff --git a/apps/web/src/pages/agent-detail-page.tsx b/apps/web/src/pages/agent-detail-page.tsx
index 2fee6a96d..d7ddbf0a1 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/pages/agent-detail-page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/pages/agent-detail-page.tsx
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ export function AgentDetailPage({
                 </Badge>
                 <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
                   {archived
-                    ? "Archived — nobody can start a new chat with it until it is restored. Chats already running keep going."
-                    : "Active — anyone in this bench can start a chat with it."}
+                    ? "Archived — nobody can start a new conversation with it until it is restored. Conversations already running keep going."
+                    : "Active — anyone in this workbench can talk to it."}
                 </span>
               </div>
               <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ export function AgentDetailRoute({
       <RichEmptyState
         icon={<Robot />}
         title="No such agent"
-        description={`Nothing in this bench answers to "${slug}". It may have been renamed, or belong to another workbench.`}
+        description={`Nothing here answers to "${slug}". It may have been renamed, or belong to another workbench.`}
         footer={
           <Button asChild variant="outline">
             <Link to={AGENTS_PATH_PREFIX}>Back to Agents</Link>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/pages/new-workbench-picker.tsx b/apps/web/src/pages/new-workbench-picker.tsx
index 76f45e898..44d0c3359 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/pages/new-workbench-picker.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/pages/new-workbench-picker.tsx
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export function NewWorkbenchPickerRoute() {
         {creating ? (
           <WorkbenchLoadingState title="Setting up your workbench…" />
         ) : library.kind === "loading" ? (
-          <WorkbenchLoadingState title="Seeing what this bench can set up…" />
+          <WorkbenchLoadingState title="Seeing what you can set up here…" />
         ) : (
           <>
             <h3>What should this workbench do?</h3>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/workbench-templates-api.ts b/apps/web/src/workbench-templates-api.ts
index f383f7dd5..5f26b4493 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/workbench-templates-api.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/workbench-templates-api.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export async function deployWorkbenchTemplateBlock(
   );
   if (parsed instanceof type.errors) {
     throw new ApiQueryError(
-      `Unexpected deploy response shape: ${parsed.summary}`,
+      `Couldn't set that up — the answer didn't look right: ${parsed.summary}`,
       undefined,
       path,
     );
diff --git a/packages/chat-ui/src/strings.ts b/packages/chat-ui/src/strings.ts
index 6be7c836a..c17e1bc25 100644
--- a/packages/chat-ui/src/strings.ts
+++ b/packages/chat-ui/src/strings.ts
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ export const CHAT_STRINGS = {
     `You'll be sent to ${name} to approve access, then land right back here connected — nothing is shared until you approve.`,
   blockConnectServiceKeylessHelper: "One click — no account keys needed.",
   blockConnectServiceKeyHelper: (name: string) =>
-    `You'll paste a ${name} API key — it stays in your workspace and you can disconnect any time.`,
+    `You'll paste a ${name} API key — it stays in your workbench and you can disconnect any time.`,
   blockConnectServiceKeyFieldLabel: (name: string) => `${name} API key`,
   blockConnectServiceKeyFieldPlaceholder: "Paste your key",
   blockConnectServiceKeyWhere: (name: string) =>