diff --git a/backend/services/debatevsbot.go b/backend/services/debatevsbot.go
index 0446b66e..d28d83b7 100644
--- a/backend/services/debatevsbot.go
+++ b/backend/services/debatevsbot.go
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ func GenerateBotResponse(botName, botLevel, topic string, history []models.Messa
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	response, err := generateDefaultModelText(ctx, prompt)
 	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("❌ Gemini error in GenerateBotResponse: %v", err)
 		return personalityErrorResponse(botName, "A glitch in my logic, there is.")
 	}
 	if response == "" {
diff --git a/backend/services/gemini.go b/backend/services/gemini.go
index 985439d5..bc06669d 100644
--- a/backend/services/gemini.go
+++ b/backend/services/gemini.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/genai"
 )
 
-const defaultGeminiModel = "gemini-2.5-flash"
+const defaultGeminiModel = "gemini-3.6-flash"
 
 func initGemini(apiKey string) (*genai.Client, error) {
 	config := &genai.ClientConfig{}