diff --git a/blog.njk b/blog.njk
index 996d1ad..cb95775 100644
--- a/blog.njk
+++ b/blog.njk
@@ -329,10 +329,10 @@ permalink: "blog/{% if pagination.pageNumber > 0 %}page/{{ pagination.pageNumber
       </div>
       {% endif %}
 
-      {# AI usage badge #}
+      {# AI usage badge — only show when AI was actually used (level > 0) #}
       {% set postAiText = post.data.aiTextLevel or post.data.ai_text_level %}
       {% set postAiCode = post.data.aiCodeLevel or post.data.ai_code_level %}
-      {% if postAiText or postAiCode %}
+      {% if (postAiText and postAiText !== "0") or (postAiCode and postAiCode !== "0") %}
       <span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 mt-2 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-[10px] font-medium bg-surface-100 dark:bg-surface-700 text-surface-500 dark:text-surface-400" title="AI usage: Text level {{ postAiText or '–' }}, Code level {{ postAiCode or '–' }}">
         <svg class="w-3 h-3" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M9.75 3.104v5.714a2.25 2.25 0 01-.659 1.591L5 14.5M9.75 3.104c-.251.023-.501.05-.75.082m.75-.082a24.301 24.301 0 014.5 0m0 0v5.714a2.25 2.25 0 00.659 1.591L19 14.5M14.25 3.104c.251.023.501.05.75.082M19 14.5l-2.47 2.47a2.25 2.25 0 01-1.59.659H9.06a2.25 2.25 0 01-1.591-.659L5 14.5m14 0V17a2 2 0 01-2 2H7a2 2 0 01-2-2v-2.5"/></svg>
         AI{% if postAiText %}: T{{ postAiText }}{% endif %}{% if postAiCode %}/C{{ postAiCode }}{% endif %}