diff --git a/doc/runner-api-tools.md b/doc/runner-api-tools.md
index b59a144367..fdf085f124 100644
--- a/doc/runner-api-tools.md
+++ b/doc/runner-api-tools.md
@@ -176,6 +176,52 @@ real PostgreSQL and filesystem operations. Filesystem fault tests exercise the
 actual command with simulated provider transport; they do not establish a live
 Daytona RPC or deployed recovery.
 
+
+### Image generation for OpenAI API-key Codex agents
+
+Codex shows its built-in `image_gen` tool only when it signs in with ChatGPT.
+A Codex agent that uses an OpenAI API key does not get that tool. The runner
+also keeps the provider key out of the agent's shell, so the imagegen skill's
+`scripts/image_gen.py` fallback cannot run.
+
+For these agents, the controller advertises `generate_image`. The tool is
+advertised only when all of these conditions are true:
+
+- The run is a native Codex standard-mode run.
+- The run was admitted on an OpenAI `api_key` connection with no custom routing.
+- The run has a workspace.
+
+Dot, Muse, Grok, native reviews and plugin-owned tasks do not get the tool.
+
+The server reads the key from that same connection on each call. It sends the
+key only to `https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations` (model
+`gpt-image-2`). The key never enters the provider process, the execution
+command or the tool result.
+
+Every call does these checks again before any spend:
+
+- The live run, task and budget authority.
+- `issue:mutate` permission.
+- The connection grant, audience and agent installation.
+
+A budget hard-stop that pauses the agent refuses the call before OpenAI is
+contacted.
+
+The PNG is saved as a new, create-only file in the workspace root:
+
+- Local hosts use symlink-confined opens.
+- Remote targets use the same installer as `download_artifact`.
+
+The result returns the relative path, the size and the SHA-256.
+
+Each generated image records one `cost_events` row (`metered_api`,
+`costStatus: "estimated"`) from a reviewed `gpt-image-2` rate card. The row is
+recorded even when saving the image fails. Each call also writes
+content-free `runner.image_generate` audit records.
+
+A per-call receipt in the run result makes a retried or recovered call replay
+the first result instead of paying again.
+
 ### Media files and upload limits
 
 The 1 GiB limit covers new snapshots returned by `call_api`, such as large JSON
diff --git a/packages/paperclip-runner/src/drivers/codex/codex-api-key-image-tools.test.ts b/packages/paperclip-runner/src/drivers/codex/codex-api-key-image-tools.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..33e31140fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/paperclip-runner/src/drivers/codex/codex-api-key-image-tools.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { createServer, type IncomingMessage } from "node:http";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { createInterface } from "node:readline";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { resolvePinnedCodexCommand } from "./codex-command.js";
+import { createIsolatedCodexAppServerArgs, createSecuredCodexThreadParams } from "./codex-security-config.js";
+import { WORKSPACE } from "./codex-app-server-driver.test-support.js";
+
+/**
+ * N-12 (walk step 26): what an OpenAI API-key Codex agent actually gets to call.
+ * Drives the pinned Codex app-server with the runner's isolated launch and the
+ * API-key auth file the runner writes, against a local Responses endpoint, and
+ * reads the tool list from the first model request.
+ */
+describe("Codex API-key image tools (pinned binary)", () => {
+  it("hides Codex's built-in image_gen under API-key auth, so Paperclip's generate_image is the image path", async () => {
+    const requests: string[] = [];
+    const server = createServer((req: IncomingMessage, res) => {
+      const chunks: Buffer[] = [];
+      req.on("data", chunk => chunks.push(chunk));
+      req.on("end", () => {
+        if (req.method === "POST" && req.url?.startsWith("/v1/responses")) requests.push(Buffer.concat(chunks).toString("utf8"));
+        // 426 makes Codex fall back from its Responses websocket to HTTP.
+        res.writeHead(req.method === "GET" && req.url?.startsWith("/v1/responses") ? 426 : 400, { "content-type": "application/json" });
+        res.end(JSON.stringify({ error: { message: "test endpoint", type: "invalid_request_error" } }));
+      });
+    });
+    await new Promise<void>(done => server.listen(0, "127.0.0.1", done));
+    const port = (server.address() as { port: number }).port;
+    const codexHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "paperclip-n12-api-key-home-"));
+    // The same files prepareIsolatedCodexHome writes for an API-key agent.
+    writeFileSync(join(codexHome, "config.toml"), 'cli_auth_credentials_store = "file"\n[features]\nshell_snapshot = false\n');
+    writeFileSync(join(codexHome, "auth.json"), JSON.stringify({ OPENAI_API_KEY: "sk-test-not-a-real-key" }), { mode: 0o600 });
+    // Linux hosts run Codex inside an outer runner sandbox (the server sets
+    // this launch mode), and CI containers cannot create bwrap namespaces.
+    const source: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = { PATH: process.env.PATH, HOME: codexHome, CODEX_HOME: codexHome,
+      ...(process.platform === "linux" ? { PAPERCLIP_RUNNER_EXTERNAL_SANDBOX: "1" } : {}) };
+    const launch = createIsolatedCodexAppServerArgs(source);
+    const child = spawn(resolvePinnedCodexCommand(), [...launch.slice(0, -1),
+      "-c", `openai_base_url="http://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1"`, "-c", `chatgpt_base_url="http://127.0.0.1:${port}/backend-api"`, launch.at(-1)!], {
+      env: source, stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "ignore"],
+    });
+    try {
+      let nextId = 0;
+      const pending = new Map<number, (message: Record<string, unknown>) => void>();
+      createInterface({ input: child.stdout! }).on("line", line => {
+        try {
+          const message = JSON.parse(line) as Record<string, unknown>;
+          if (typeof message.id === "number" && pending.has(message.id)) { pending.get(message.id)!(message); pending.delete(message.id); }
+        } catch { /* notifications and logs */ }
+      });
+      const call = (method: string, params: unknown) => new Promise<Record<string, unknown>>(done => {
+        const id = ++nextId;
+        pending.set(id, done);
+        child.stdin!.write(`${JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: "2.0", id, method, params })}\n`);
+      });
+      await call("initialize", { clientInfo: { name: "paperclip-runner", title: "Paperclip Runner", version: "test" }, capabilities: { experimentalApi: true } });
+      child.stdin!.write(`${JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: "2.0", method: "initialized" })}\n`);
+      const thread = await call("thread/start", {
+        ...createSecuredCodexThreadParams(WORKSPACE, "default", true, false, source),
+        model: "gpt-5.6-sol",
+        dynamicTools: [{ name: "generate_image", description: "Generate a PNG with the agent's existing OpenAI connection.",
+          inputSchema: { type: "object", properties: { prompt: { type: "string" } }, required: ["prompt"] } }],
+      });
+      expect(thread.error, JSON.stringify(thread.error)).toBeUndefined();
+      const threadId = String((thread.result as { thread: { id: string } }).thread.id);
+      await call("turn/start", { threadId, input: [{ type: "text", text: "Make a cake logo image." }] });
+      const deadline = Date.now() + 30_000;
+      while (!requests.length && Date.now() < deadline) await new Promise(done => setTimeout(done, 200));
+      expect(requests.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      const body = JSON.parse(requests[0]!) as { tools?: Array<Record<string, unknown>>; input: Array<Record<string, unknown>> };
+      const names: string[] = [];
+      for (const tool of body.tools ?? []) names.push(String(tool.name ?? tool.type));
+      for (const item of body.input) {
+        if (item.type !== "additional_tools") continue;
+        for (const namespace of item.tools as Array<Record<string, unknown>>) {
+          for (const tool of (namespace.tools as Array<Record<string, unknown>> | undefined) ?? [namespace]) {
+            names.push(`${String(namespace.name ?? namespace.type)}.${String(tool.name ?? tool.type)}`);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      // Codex gates image_gen on ChatGPT/Codex-backend auth, so an API key never gets it.
+      expect(names.some(name => /image_gen|imagegen|image_generation/.test(name))).toBe(false);
+      // Paperclip's server-side tool does reach the model on this path.
+      expect(JSON.stringify(body)).toContain("generate_image");
+    } finally {
+      const exited = child.exitCode !== null || child.signalCode !== null ? Promise.resolve() : new Promise(done => child.once("exit", done));
+      child.kill("SIGKILL");
+      await exited;
+      server.close();
+      rmSync(codexHome, { recursive: true, force: true, maxRetries: 5, retryDelay: 100 });
+    }
+  }, 90_000);
+});
diff --git a/server/src/services/ai-connections.ts b/server/src/services/ai-connections.ts
index 16086ebaee..25b812ffc3 100644
--- a/server/src/services/ai-connections.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/ai-connections.ts
@@ -456,6 +456,42 @@ export function aiConnectionService(db: Db) {
     }
     return { ...row, provider };
   }
+  /**
+   * A native run's image tool reuses the exact AI connection the run was
+   * admitted with. Recheck the same permissions as runtime selection on every
+   * call: an OpenAI API key sent directly to OpenAI, active and healthy, shared
+   * with the responsible user and installed for this agent.
+   */
+  async function selectImageGeneration(input: {
+    companyId: string; connectionId: string; grantId: string;
+    userId: string | null; agentId: string;
+  }) {
+    const [row] = await db.select({ connection: toolConnections, grant: connectionGrants })
+      .from(toolConnections).innerJoin(connectionGrants, and(
+        eq(connectionGrants.connectionId, toolConnections.id), eq(connectionGrants.companyId, toolConnections.companyId),
+      )).where(and(eq(toolConnections.companyId, input.companyId), eq(toolConnections.id, input.connectionId),
+        eq(connectionGrants.id, input.grantId), eq(toolConnections.connectionPurpose, "ai"))).limit(1);
+    if (!row) throw unprocessable("AI connection unavailable", { code: "connection_unavailable" });
+    const metadata = aiConnectionMetadataSchema.safeParse(row.connection.config.ai);
+    if (!metadata.success || metadata.data.provider !== "openai" || metadata.data.method !== "api_key" || metadata.data.routing)
+      throw unprocessable("Image generation needs an OpenAI API-key connection", { code: "incompatible_connection" });
+    if (row.grant.status !== "active" || !row.connection.enabled || row.connection.status !== "active" || row.connection.healthStatus !== "ok")
+      throw unprocessable("Reconnect or enable this connection", { code: "connection_unavailable" });
+    if (!input.userId || !(await membership(input.companyId, input.userId))) throw forbidden("Active responsible user required");
+    if (row.grant.kind === "user" && !(await membership(input.companyId, row.grant.subjectUserId)))
+      throw forbidden("The account owner is no longer an active company member");
+    const audience = await db.select().from(connectionGrantMembers).where(and(
+      eq(connectionGrantMembers.companyId, input.companyId), eq(connectionGrantMembers.grantId, input.grantId),
+    ));
+    if (!canUseCredential(row.grant, input.userId, audience)) throw forbidden("Connection is not shared with this user");
+    const [install] = await db.select({ id: toolConnectionInstalls.id }).from(toolConnectionInstalls).where(and(
+      eq(toolConnectionInstalls.companyId, input.companyId), eq(toolConnectionInstalls.connectionId, input.connectionId),
+      or(and(eq(toolConnectionInstalls.targetType, "company"), eq(toolConnectionInstalls.targetId, input.companyId)),
+        and(eq(toolConnectionInstalls.targetType, "agent"), eq(toolConnectionInstalls.targetId, input.agentId))),
+    )).limit(1);
+    if (!install) throw forbidden("Connection is not permitted for this agent");
+    return row;
+  }
   /** Internal fast-response use has its own capability check, never a pretend CLI harness. */
   async function selectFastResponse(input: {
     companyId: string; connectionId: string; grantId: string;
@@ -1233,5 +1269,5 @@ export function aiConnectionService(db: Db) {
       return [{ ...row, summary }];
     });
   }
-  return { list, selectDecision, selectFastResponse, selectPromptInjectionPrevention, quotaAccounts, subscriptionAccounts: (companyId: string, userId: string) => quotaAccounts(companyId, userId, true), refreshQuotaCredential, select, credential, runtimeCredential, probeUsage, accountIdentity, save, setDefault, membership, markAuthenticationFailed };
+  return { list, selectDecision, selectFastResponse, selectImageGeneration, selectPromptInjectionPrevention, quotaAccounts, subscriptionAccounts: (companyId: string, userId: string) => quotaAccounts(companyId, userId, true), refreshQuotaCredential, select, credential, runtimeCredential, probeUsage, accountIdentity, save, setDefault, membership, markAuthenticationFailed };
 }
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.test.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e3120bd446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,335 @@
+import { createHash, randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
+import { mkdtemp, readFile, readdir, realpath, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { and, eq, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { activityLog, agents, authUsers, budgetPolicies, companies, companyMemberships, costEvents, createDb, heartbeatRuns, issues, projects } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import { startRecoveryPostgres } from "../../__tests__/helpers/recovery-postgres.js";
+import { aiConnectionService } from "../ai-connections.js";
+import { accountRunCost } from "../run-cost-accounting.js";
+import { budgetServiceInTransaction } from "../budgets.js";
+import { PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority } from "./paperclip-runner-tool-authority.js";
+import { imageGenerationBindingForRun, priceGeneratedImage, requestOpenAiImage } from "./generate-image-tool.js";
+
+// One transparent 1x1 PNG. The handler only needs real PNG bytes to save.
+const PNG = Buffer.from("iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mNkYPhfDwAChwGA60e6kgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==", "base64");
+const OPENAI_KEY = "sk-agent-existing-provider-key";
+
+describe("generate_image for OpenAI API-key Codex agents (N-12)", () => {
+  let temporary: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startRecoveryPostgres>> | null = null;
+  let db: ReturnType<typeof createDb>;
+  let home: string;
+  const workspaces: string[] = [];
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    home = await realpath(await mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-image-tool-home-")));
+    vi.stubEnv("PAPERCLIP_HOME", home);
+    vi.stubEnv("PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID", "image-tool-fixture");
+    temporary = await startRecoveryPostgres("paperclip-image-tool-");
+    db = createDb(temporary.connectionString);
+    await db.insert(authUsers).values({ id: "alice", name: "Alice", email: "alice@example.test", createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() });
+  }, 90_000);
+  afterEach(() => vi.unstubAllGlobals());
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await db?.$client.end({ timeout: 1 });
+    await temporary?.cleanup();
+    for (const workspace of workspaces) await rm(workspace, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    await rm(home, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+  });
+
+  /** An onboarding-style company: one Codex agent running on an OpenAI API key. */
+  async function fixture() {
+    const companyId = randomUUID(), agentId = randomUUID(), issueId = randomUUID(), runId = randomUUID();
+    await db.insert(companies).values({ id: companyId, name: "Pixel Bakery", issuePrefix: `PX${companyId.slice(0, 4).toUpperCase()}` });
+    await db.insert(companyMemberships).values({ companyId, principalId: "alice", principalType: "user", status: "active", membershipRole: "owner" });
+    await db.insert(agents).values({ id: agentId, companyId, name: "Head baker", adapterType: "paperclip_runner",
+      adapterConfig: { provider: "codex" }, status: "active" });
+    const connection = await aiConnectionService(db).save(companyId, "alice", {
+      provider: "openai", method: "api_key", name: "OpenAI", ownership: "shared",
+      apiKey: OPENAI_KEY, agentIds: [], allAgents: true,
+    } as never, OPENAI_KEY);
+    await db.insert(issues).values({ id: issueId, companyId, title: "Create printable cake menu and logo",
+      status: "in_progress", workMode: "standard", assigneeAgentId: agentId });
+    const aiConnection = { connectionId: connection.connectionId, grantId: connection.grantId,
+      provider: "openai", method: "api_key", mode: "shared", responsibleUserId: "alice" };
+    await db.insert(heartbeatRuns).values({ id: runId, companyId, agentId, status: "running", runtimeMode: "native",
+      nativeIssueId: issueId, invocationSource: "assignment", triggerDetail: "system", responsibleUserId: "alice",
+      contextSnapshot: { issueId, aiConnection } });
+    await db.update(issues).set({ executionRunId: runId }).where(eq(issues.id, issueId));
+    const workspaceRoot = await realpath(await mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-image-tool-ws-")));
+    workspaces.push(workspaceRoot);
+    const binding = { companyId, agentId, issueId, runId, workspaceRoot,
+      imageGeneration: { connectionId: connection.connectionId, grantId: connection.grantId } };
+    return { ...binding, binding, aiConnection };
+  }
+
+  function stubOpenAiImages() {
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn(async (_url: string | URL | Request, _init?: RequestInit) => new Response(JSON.stringify({
+      created: 1, data: [{ b64_json: PNG.toString("base64") }],
+      usage: { input_tokens: 50, output_tokens: 1000, input_tokens_details: { text_tokens: 50, image_tokens: 0 } },
+    }), { status: 200, headers: { "content-type": "application/json", "x-request-id": "req_image_1" } }));
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+    return fetchMock;
+  }
+
+  it("lets an API-key Codex agent make an image with its existing OpenAI key, saved in its workspace and billed", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+
+    expect(authority.definitions().map(tool => tool.name)).toContain("generate_image");
+
+    const callId = randomUUID();
+    const result = await authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId,
+      arguments: { prompt: "A warm, playful cake logo for Pixel Bakery", name: "pixel-bakery-logo" } }) as Record<string, unknown>;
+
+    // The trusted server made the call with the agent's existing key; no second key.
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const [url, init] = fetchMock.mock.calls[0]!;
+    expect(String(url)).toBe("https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations");
+    expect(new Headers(init?.headers).get("authorization")).toBe(`Bearer ${OPENAI_KEY}`);
+    expect(JSON.parse(String(init?.body))).toMatchObject({ model: "gpt-image-2", prompt: "A warm, playful cake logo for Pixel Bakery" });
+
+    // The PNG lands in the workspace under the returned relative path.
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ outcome: "completed", contentType: "image/png", byteSize: PNG.length,
+      sha256: createHash("sha256").update(PNG).digest("hex") });
+    expect(String(result.path)).toMatch(/^pixel-bakery-logo-[a-f0-9]{8}\.png$/);
+    expect(await readFile(path.join(f.workspaceRoot, String(result.path)))).toEqual(PNG);
+    expect(JSON.stringify(result)).not.toContain(OPENAI_KEY);
+
+    // Spend is recorded on the budget ledger for this agent, run and task.
+    const costs = await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId));
+    expect(costs).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(costs[0]).toMatchObject({ agentId: f.agentId, issueId: f.issueId, provider: "openai", biller: "openai",
+      billingType: "metered_api", model: "gpt-image-2", costStatus: "estimated", inputTokens: 50, outputTokens: 1000,
+      providerRequestId: "req_image_1" });
+    // 50 text tokens at $5/M + 1000 image output tokens at $30/M = $0.03025.
+    expect(Number(costs[0]!.costCents)).toBeCloseTo(3.025, 6);
+
+    const activity = await db.select().from(activityLog).where(and(eq(activityLog.companyId, f.companyId), eq(activityLog.action, "runner.image_generate")));
+    expect(activity.map(row => (row.details as Record<string, unknown>).outcome)).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(["started", "completed"]));
+    expect(JSON.stringify(activity)).not.toContain(OPENAI_KEY);
+
+    // A provider retry of the same call replays the receipt instead of paying again.
+    const replay = await authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId,
+      arguments: { prompt: "A warm, playful cake logo for Pixel Bakery", name: "pixel-bakery-logo" } });
+    expect(replay).toEqual(result);
+    expect(await authority.recover({ tool: "generate_image", callId,
+      arguments: { prompt: "A warm, playful cake logo for Pixel Bakery", name: "pixel-bakery-logo" } })).toEqual({ result });
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("is not offered without a server-verified OpenAI API-key binding", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const { imageGeneration: _omitted, ...withoutBinding } = f.binding;
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, withoutBinding);
+    expect(authority.definitions().map(tool => tool.name)).not.toContain("generate_image");
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } }))
+      .rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("refuses before calling OpenAI once a budget hard-stop has paused the agent", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    await db.update(agents).set({ status: "paused" }).where(eq(agents.id, f.agentId));
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } }))
+      .rejects.toThrow();
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(await readdir(f.workspaceRoot)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("still records the spend when a paid image cannot be saved", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    await rm(f.workspaceRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    const callId = randomUUID();
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow();
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(1);
+    // The failed call is settled: a retry with the same call ID neither pays nor claims success.
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: { prompt: "logo" } }))
+      .rejects.toThrow("could not be saved");
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("refuses before calling OpenAI when the task's project budget has stopped work", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    const [project] = await db.insert(projects).values({ companyId: f.companyId, name: "Menu", pausedAt: new Date(), pauseReason: "budget" }).returning();
+    await db.update(issues).set({ projectId: project!.id }).where(eq(issues.id, f.issueId));
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } }))
+      .rejects.toThrow("budget");
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("settles a paid image whose run stopped before the charge was recorded, without buying another", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    const callId = randomUUID();
+    const input = { prompt: "logo", size: "1024x1024", quality: "auto" };
+    // The state a crash leaves after OpenAI charged but before accounting committed.
+    const key = createHash("sha256").update(callId).digest("hex");
+    const digest = createHash("sha256").update(JSON.stringify({ prompt: "logo", quality: "auto", size: "1024x1024" })).digest("hex");
+    await db.update(heartbeatRuns).set({ resultJson: { imageToolReceipts: { [key]: { digest, state: "charged", charge: {
+      model: "gpt-image-2", providerRequestId: "req_lost", usage: { textInputTokens: 10, imageInputTokens: 0, outputTokens: 100 },
+      costCents: "0.3050000", pricingProvenance: { source: "rate_card", version: "openai-image-standard-2026-11-06" },
+      projectId: null, destination: "generated-image-0a1b2c3d.png", byteSize: PNG.length, sha256: "0".repeat(64),
+      chargedAt: "2026-11-06T12:00:00.000Z" } } } } })
+      .where(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, f.runId));
+    expect(await authority.recover({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: input })).toBeNull();
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: input })).rejects.toThrow("generated-image-0a1b2c3d.png");
+    const costs = await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId));
+    expect(costs).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(costs[0]).toMatchObject({ providerRequestId: "req_lost", outputTokens: 100 });
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("run accounting settles a paid image that no tool call settled", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const key = createHash("sha256").update(randomUUID()).digest("hex");
+    await db.update(heartbeatRuns).set({ status: "succeeded", finishedAt: new Date(), costAccountingPending: true,
+      resultJson: { imageToolReceipts: { [key]: { digest: "d", state: "charged", charge: {
+        model: "gpt-image-2", providerRequestId: "req_unsettled", usage: { textInputTokens: 10, imageInputTokens: 0, outputTokens: 100 },
+        costCents: "0.3050000", pricingProvenance: { source: "rate_card", version: "openai-image-standard-2026-11-06" },
+        projectId: null, destination: "generated-image-0a1b2c3d.png", byteSize: PNG.length, sha256: "0".repeat(64),
+        chargedAt: "2026-11-06T12:00:00.000Z" } } } } })
+      .where(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, f.runId));
+    await accountRunCost(db, f.runId);
+    const costs = await db.select().from(costEvents).where(and(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId), eq(costEvents.providerRequestId, "req_unsettled")));
+    expect(costs).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(costs[0]).toMatchObject({ agentId: f.agentId, issueId: f.issueId, model: "gpt-image-2", outputTokens: 100, costStatus: "estimated" });
+    // The task is deleted while the receipt is still `charged`; later accounting must not conflict.
+    await db.update(heartbeatRuns).set({ costAccountingPending: true, costAccountedAt: null, nativeIssueId: null }).where(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, f.runId));
+    await db.update(costEvents).set({ issueId: null }).where(eq(costEvents.id, costs[0]!.id));
+    await expect(accountRunCost(db, f.runId)).resolves.not.toThrow();
+    expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(and(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId), eq(costEvents.providerRequestId, "req_unsettled")))).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it("records unknown spend when OpenAI's response is lost after the request was sent", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => { throw new TypeError("fetch failed: socket hang up"); });
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    const callId = randomUUID();
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow("may have been billed");
+    const costs = await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId));
+    expect(costs).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(costs[0]).toMatchObject({ provider: "openai", model: "gpt-image-2", costStatus: "unpriced", billingType: "unknown" });
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId, arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow("may have been billed");
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(1);
+    // A budget that blocks unpriced spend now holds further paid work.
+    await db.insert(budgetPolicies).values({ companyId: f.companyId, scopeType: "agent", scopeId: f.agentId, windowKind: "calendar_month_utc",
+      amount: 100_000, unpricedUsagePolicy: "block" });
+    expect(await budgetServiceInTransaction(db).getInvocationBlock(f.companyId, f.agentId, { issueId: f.issueId })).toMatchObject({
+      reason: expect.stringContaining("no reliable price") });
+  });
+
+  it("records no spend when OpenAI rejects the request", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", vi.fn(async () => new Response(JSON.stringify({ error: { message: "Your request was rejected by the safety system" } }), { status: 400 })));
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow("safety system");
+    expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("does not call OpenAI when Stop commits after the first authority check", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    // Stop lands while the handler writes its receipt and audit entry.
+    await db.execute(sql.raw(`create or replace function n12_stop_on_image_start() returns trigger language plpgsql as $$
+      begin
+        if new.action = 'runner.image_generate' and new.details->>'outcome' = 'started' then
+          update agents set status = 'paused' where id = new.actor_id::uuid;
+        end if;
+        return new;
+      end $$;
+      create trigger n12_stop_on_image_start after insert on activity_log for each row execute function n12_stop_on_image_start();`));
+    try {
+      const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+      await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow();
+      expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(0);
+    } finally {
+      await db.execute(sql.raw("drop trigger if exists n12_stop_on_image_start on activity_log; drop function if exists n12_stop_on_image_start();"));
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("does not call OpenAI when the connection grant is revoked after the first check", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    await db.execute(sql.raw(`create or replace function n12_revoke_on_image_start() returns trigger language plpgsql as $$
+      begin
+        if new.action = 'runner.image_generate' and new.details->>'outcome' = 'started' then
+          update connection_grants set status = 'revoked' where id = '${f.binding.imageGeneration.grantId}';
+        end if;
+        return new;
+      end $$;
+      create trigger n12_revoke_on_image_start after insert on activity_log for each row execute function n12_revoke_on_image_start();`));
+    try {
+      const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, f.binding as never);
+      await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } })).rejects.toThrow();
+      expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(await db.select().from(costEvents).where(eq(costEvents.heartbeatRunId, f.runId))).toHaveLength(0);
+    } finally {
+      await db.execute(sql.raw("drop trigger if exists n12_revoke_on_image_start on activity_log; drop function if exists n12_revoke_on_image_start();"));
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("refuses when the run's AI connection is no longer an active OpenAI API key", async () => {
+    const f = await fixture();
+    const fetchMock = stubOpenAiImages();
+    const authority = new PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority(db, { ...f.binding,
+      imageGeneration: { connectionId: f.binding.imageGeneration.connectionId, grantId: randomUUID() } } as never);
+    await expect(authority.execute({ tool: "generate_image", callId: randomUUID(), arguments: { prompt: "logo" } }))
+      .rejects.toThrow();
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("generate_image helpers", () => {
+  const aiConnection = { connectionId: "c1", grantId: "g1", provider: "openai", method: "api_key" };
+
+  it("binds only native Codex runs on a direct OpenAI API-key connection", () => {
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "codex", contextSnapshot: { aiConnection } }))
+      .toEqual({ connectionId: "c1", grantId: "g1" });
+    // ChatGPT sign-in keeps Codex's own image tool; other harnesses and routed keys get nothing.
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "codex", contextSnapshot: { aiConnection: { ...aiConnection, method: "subscription" } } })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "acpx", contextSnapshot: { aiConnection } })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "codex", contextSnapshot: { aiConnection: { ...aiConnection, provider: "openrouter" } } })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "codex", contextSnapshot: { aiConnection, aiRouterSelection: { model: "x" } } })).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: "codex", contextSnapshot: {} })).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("prices gpt-image-2 from the reviewed rate card", () => {
+    const price = priceGeneratedImage({ bytes: PNG, model: "gpt-image-2", providerRequestId: null,
+      usage: { textInputTokens: 1_000_000, imageInputTokens: 1_000_000, outputTokens: 1_000_000 } });
+    expect(price.costUsd).toBe("43.000000000");
+    expect(price.pricingProvenance).toMatchObject({ source: "rate_card", version: "openai-image-standard-2026-11-06" });
+  });
+
+  it("stops reading an oversized provider reply before parsing it", async () => {
+    const huge = vi.fn(async () => new Response(new ReadableStream({ start(controller) {
+      for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) controller.enqueue(new Uint8Array(1024));
+      controller.close();
+    } }), { status: 200 }));
+    await expect(requestOpenAiImage({ prompt: "logo", size: "1024x1024", quality: "auto", apiKey: OPENAI_KEY }, huge as never, { maxResponseBytes: 4096 }))
+      .rejects.toThrow("too large");
+  });
+
+  it("reports provider errors without echoing the key and rejects non-PNG data", async () => {
+    const failing = vi.fn(async () => new Response(JSON.stringify({ error: { message: "Billing hard limit reached" } }), { status: 400 }));
+    await expect(requestOpenAiImage({ prompt: "logo", size: "1024x1024", quality: "auto", apiKey: OPENAI_KEY }, failing as never))
+      .rejects.toThrow("OpenAI image generation failed: Billing hard limit reached");
+    const notPng = vi.fn(async () => new Response(JSON.stringify({ data: [{ b64_json: Buffer.from("<svg/>").toString("base64") }] }), { status: 200 }));
+    await expect(requestOpenAiImage({ prompt: "logo", size: "1024x1024", quality: "auto", apiKey: OPENAI_KEY }, notPng as never))
+      .rejects.toThrow("invalid PNG");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae735acc3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/generate-image-tool.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+import { createHash, randomBytes } from "node:crypto";
+import { constants } from "node:fs";
+import { realpath } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import { centsToUsd, unitsToCents, usdToUnits } from "@paperclipai/shared";
+import { and, eq } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { costEvents, issues, projects, type Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import type { ActivityPublication } from "../activity-log.js";
+import { createCostEventInTransaction } from "../costs.js";
+import { openRunnerWorkspaceFile } from "./runner-api-files.js";
+
+/**
+ * Codex hides its built-in image tool unless it is signed in with ChatGPT
+ * (codex-rs core/src/tools/spec_plan.rs `image_generation_available`), and the
+ * runner keeps the provider key out of the agent's shell. For an OpenAI API-key
+ * agent this server-side tool makes the image with that existing key instead.
+ */
+export const GENERATE_IMAGE = "generate_image";
+export const GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL = "gpt-image-2";
+const OPENAI_IMAGES_URL = "https://api.openai.com/v1/images/generations";
+const MAX_IMAGE_BYTES = 20 * 1024 * 1024;
+const REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = 180_000;
+// Base64 of the largest accepted PNG plus room for the JSON envelope.
+const MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES = Math.ceil(MAX_IMAGE_BYTES / 3) * 4 + 64 * 1024;
+
+export const generateImageSchema = z.object({
+  prompt: z.string().trim().min(1).max(8000).describe("What to draw. Include subject, style, colors and any exact text."),
+  size: z.enum(["1024x1024", "1536x1024", "1024x1536", "auto"]).default("1024x1024"),
+  quality: z.enum(["low", "medium", "high", "auto"]).default("auto"),
+  name: z.string().regex(/^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,47}$/).optional()
+    .describe("Short lowercase file name stem, for example cake-logo. A unique suffix and .png are added."),
+}).strict();
+export type GenerateImageInput = z.infer<typeof generateImageSchema>;
+
+export const GENERATE_IMAGE_DEFINITION = {
+  name: GENERATE_IMAGE,
+  description: "Generate a new raster image (PNG) with OpenAI's image model, using this agent's existing OpenAI connection. "
+    + "No extra API key is needed. Use this instead of the imagegen skill's built-in image_gen tool or scripts/image_gen.py, which are unavailable here. "
+    + "The image is saved as a new file in the workspace root and the result gives its relative path; move or copy it from there, "
+    + "and use register_deliverable if the user should receive it. Each call is billed to this agent's budget, so generate only what the task needs.",
+  inputSchema: z.toJSONSchema(generateImageSchema),
+};
+
+/** Only a native Codex run on an OpenAI API-key connection, without custom routing, gets the tool. */
+export function imageGenerationBindingForRun(input: {
+  providerKind: string;
+  contextSnapshot: unknown;
+}): { connectionId: string; grantId: string } | undefined {
+  if (input.providerKind !== "codex") return undefined;
+  const snapshot = record(input.contextSnapshot);
+  if (snapshot.aiRouterSelection || snapshot.managedAiRouting) return undefined;
+  const connection = record(snapshot.aiConnection);
+  if (connection.provider !== "openai" || connection.method !== "api_key") return undefined;
+  if (typeof connection.connectionId !== "string" || typeof connection.grantId !== "string") return undefined;
+  return { connectionId: connection.connectionId, grantId: connection.grantId };
+}
+
+export type GeneratedImage = {
+  bytes: Buffer;
+  model: string;
+  providerRequestId: string | null;
+  usage: { textInputTokens: number; imageInputTokens: number; outputTokens: number };
+};
+
+/** Calls the OpenAI Images API. The key is used only in this request header. */
+export async function requestOpenAiImage(input: GenerateImageInput & { apiKey: string }, fetchImpl: typeof fetch = fetch,
+  limits: { maxResponseBytes?: number } = {}): Promise<GeneratedImage> {
+  const response = await fetchImpl(OPENAI_IMAGES_URL, {
+    method: "POST",
+    headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${input.apiKey}`, "content-type": "application/json" },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ model: GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL, prompt: input.prompt, size: input.size, quality: input.quality, n: 1 }),
+    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS),
+  });
+  const text = await readBoundedText(response, limits.maxResponseBytes ?? MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES).catch((error: unknown) => {
+    if (!response.ok) throw new ImageGenerationProviderError(`OpenAI image generation failed: HTTP ${response.status}`, response.status, true);
+    throw error;
+  });
+  let body: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+  try { body = record(JSON.parse(text)); } catch { /* reported below */ }
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    // Provider messages are safe to show; they never include the request key.
+    const message = typeof record(body.error).message === "string" ? String(record(body.error).message).slice(0, 500) : `HTTP ${response.status}`;
+    throw new ImageGenerationProviderError(`OpenAI image generation failed: ${message}`, response.status, true);
+  }
+  const first = record(Array.isArray(body.data) ? body.data[0] : undefined);
+  if (typeof first.b64_json !== "string") throw new ImageGenerationProviderError("OpenAI image generation returned no image", 502);
+  const bytes = Buffer.from(first.b64_json, "base64");
+  if (bytes.length === 0 || bytes.length > MAX_IMAGE_BYTES || !bytes.subarray(0, 8).equals(PNG_SIGNATURE)) {
+    throw new ImageGenerationProviderError("OpenAI image generation returned an invalid PNG", 502);
+  }
+  const usage = record(body.usage);
+  const details = record(usage.input_tokens_details);
+  const inputTokens = count(usage.input_tokens);
+  const imageInputTokens = count(details.image_tokens);
+  return {
+    bytes,
+    model: GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL,
+    providerRequestId: response.headers.get("x-request-id"),
+    usage: {
+      // Text tokens default to all input tokens that are not reported as image input.
+      textInputTokens: details.text_tokens === undefined ? Math.max(0, inputTokens - imageInputTokens) : count(details.text_tokens),
+      imageInputTokens,
+      outputTokens: count(usage.output_tokens),
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+/** Reads at most `limit` bytes; a larger reply is cancelled before it is parsed or decoded. */
+async function readBoundedText(response: Response, limit: number): Promise<string> {
+  const declared = Number(response.headers.get("content-length"));
+  if (Number.isFinite(declared) && declared > limit) {
+    await response.body?.cancel().catch(() => undefined);
+    throw new ImageGenerationProviderError("OpenAI image generation returned a response that is too large", 502);
+  }
+  if (!response.body) return "";
+  const reader = response.body.getReader();
+  const chunks: Uint8Array[] = [];
+  let size = 0;
+  for (;;) {
+    const { done, value } = await reader.read();
+    if (done) break;
+    size += value.byteLength;
+    if (size > limit) {
+      await reader.cancel().catch(() => undefined);
+      throw new ImageGenerationProviderError("OpenAI image generation returned a response that is too large", 502);
+    }
+    chunks.push(value);
+  }
+  return Buffer.concat(chunks).toString("utf8");
+}
+
+/**
+ * `rejected` is true only for an HTTP error response, where OpenAI did not
+ * generate (and does not bill) an image. Any other failure, including a lost
+ * or unreadable success response, may have been billed.
+ */
+export class ImageGenerationProviderError extends Error {
+  constructor(message: string, readonly status: number, readonly rejected = false) { super(message); }
+}
+
+// Immutable, reviewed rate card (USD per 1M tokens, standard processing).
+// https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing (retrieved 2026-11-06)
+const RATE_CARD_VERSION = "openai-image-standard-2026-11-06";
+const RATES = { [GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL]: { textInput: "5", imageInput: "8", imageOutput: "30" } } as const;
+
+/** Token-price estimate for the budget ledger; not an invoice. Output is priced as image output. */
+export function priceGeneratedImage(image: GeneratedImage) {
+  const rates = RATES[image.model as keyof typeof RATES];
+  const units = BigInt(image.usage.textInputTokens) * usdToUnits(rates.textInput)
+    + BigInt(image.usage.imageInputTokens) * usdToUnits(rates.imageInput)
+    + BigInt(image.usage.outputTokens) * usdToUnits(rates.imageOutput);
+  const costCents = unitsToCents((units + 500_000n) / 1_000_000n);
+  return {
+    costCents,
+    costUsd: centsToUsd(costCents),
+    pricingProvenance: {
+      source: "rate_card" as const,
+      version: RATE_CARD_VERSION,
+      evidence: "https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing; image output rate applied to all output tokens",
+      inputCentsPerMillion: unitsToCents(usdToUnits(rates.textInput)),
+      outputCentsPerMillion: unitsToCents(usdToUnits(rates.imageOutput)),
+      serviceTier: "standard",
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * The cost row for one paid image. The idempotency key and the stored charge
+ * time make every settlement of the same receipt record the charge once.
+ */
+export function imageChargeCostEvent(input: { agentId: string; issueId: string | null; runId: string; key: string; charge: Record<string, unknown> }) {
+  const usage = record(input.charge.usage);
+  const chargedAt = typeof input.charge.chargedAt === "string" && !Number.isNaN(Date.parse(input.charge.chargedAt)) ? new Date(input.charge.chargedAt) : new Date(0);
+  return {
+    agentId: input.agentId, issueId: input.issueId, projectId: typeof input.charge.projectId === "string" ? input.charge.projectId : null,
+    // An uncertain charge has no usage. Billing type `unknown` keeps it from the
+    // zero-token metered exemption, so budgets that block unpriced spend see it.
+    heartbeatRunId: input.runId, provider: "openai", biller: "openai",
+    billingType: input.charge.costStatus === "unpriced" ? "unknown" as const : "metered_api" as const, model: String(input.charge.model),
+    costStatus: input.charge.costStatus === "unpriced" ? "unpriced" as const : "estimated" as const, inputTokens: count(usage.textInputTokens) + count(usage.imageInputTokens), outputTokens: count(usage.outputTokens),
+    costCents: String(input.charge.costCents), pricingProvenance: input.charge.pricingProvenance as never,
+    providerRequestId: typeof input.charge.providerRequestId === "string" ? input.charge.providerRequestId : null,
+    occurredAt: chargedAt, idempotencyKey: `image_gen:${input.runId}:${input.key}`,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Run accounting also settles paid images whose tool call never finished
+ * recording them, so a lost acknowledgement cannot drop the spend.
+ */
+export async function settleChargedImageReceiptsInTransaction(tx: Db, run: { id: string; companyId: string; agentId: string; nativeIssueId: string | null; resultJson: unknown },
+  publications: ActivityPublication[]): Promise<Array<string | null>> {
+  const settled: Array<string | null> = [];
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(record(record(run.resultJson).imageToolReceipts))) {
+    const receipt = record(value);
+    if (receipt.state !== "charged" || !/^[a-f0-9]{64}$/.test(key)) continue;
+    const event = imageChargeCostEvent({ agentId: run.agentId, issueId: run.nativeIssueId, runId: run.id, key, charge: record(receipt.charge) });
+    // Already recorded: its attribution may have changed since (a deleted task
+    // nulls cost rows), so never rebuild and compare a fresh receipt.
+    if ((await tx.select({ id: costEvents.id }).from(costEvents).where(and(eq(costEvents.companyId, run.companyId),
+      eq(costEvents.idempotencyKey, event.idempotencyKey))).limit(1))[0]) continue;
+    // Deleted attribution targets become unallocated; spend is still recorded.
+    if (event.issueId && !(await tx.select({ id: issues.id }).from(issues).where(and(eq(issues.id, event.issueId), eq(issues.companyId, run.companyId))))[0]) event.issueId = null;
+    if (event.projectId && !(await tx.select({ id: projects.id }).from(projects).where(and(eq(projects.id, event.projectId), eq(projects.companyId, run.companyId))))[0]) event.projectId = null;
+    await createCostEventInTransaction(tx, run.companyId, event, publications, undefined, { deferBudgetEvaluation: true });
+    settled.push(event.projectId);
+  }
+  return settled;
+}
+
+/** A request OpenAI may have billed although no usable response arrived: spend is recorded as unpriced. */
+export function uncertainImageCharge(input: { projectId: string | null; reason: string }) {
+  return {
+    model: GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL, providerRequestId: null, usage: { textInputTokens: 0, imageInputTokens: 0, outputTokens: 0 },
+    costCents: "0", costStatus: "unpriced", projectId: input.projectId, chargedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    pricingProvenance: { source: "unknown" as const, evidence: `Image request outcome unknown: ${input.reason}`.slice(0, 1000) },
+  };
+}
+
+/** Server-chosen, create-only destination in the workspace root. */
+export function generatedImageDestination(name: string | undefined): string {
+  return `${name ?? "generated-image"}-${randomBytes(4).toString("hex")}.png`;
+}
+
+export function imageIdentity(bytes: Buffer) {
+  return { byteSize: bytes.length, sha256: createHash("sha256").update(bytes).digest("hex") };
+}
+
+/** Local workspace write: symlink-confined, never overwrites an existing file. */
+export async function writeGeneratedImageLocally(workspaceRoot: string, destination: string, bytes: Buffer): Promise<void> {
+  if (!/^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,63}-[a-f0-9]{8}\.png$/.test(destination)) throw new Error("generated_image_path_denied");
+  const target = join(await realpath(workspaceRoot), destination);
+  const file = await openRunnerWorkspaceFile(target, constants.O_WRONLY | constants.O_CREAT | constants.O_EXCL, 0o644);
+  try {
+    await file.writeFile(bytes);
+    await file.sync();
+  } finally { await file.close(); }
+}
+
+const PNG_SIGNATURE = Buffer.from([0x89, 0x50, 0x4e, 0x47, 0x0d, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x0a]);
+function record(value: unknown): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return value && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value) ? value as Record<string, unknown> : {};
+}
+function count(value: unknown): number {
+  return typeof value === "number" && Number.isSafeInteger(value) && value >= 0 && value <= 2_147_483_647 ? value : 0;
+}
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
index be7d2a2775..19e6a761dd 100644
--- a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ import { resolveGitHubOperationCredentials } from "../github-operation-credentia
 import { bindManagedNativeCredentialTurn, completeManagedNativeCredentialTurn } from "./managed-native-credentials.js";
 import { createLocalNativeQuestionBridge } from "./local-native-question-bridge.js";
 import { createArtifactInstaller } from "./artifact-transfer.js";
+import { imageGenerationBindingForRun } from "./generate-image-tool.js";
 import { readVerifiedRemoteWorkspaceFile } from "./remote-deliverable-file.js";
 import { copyBackCodexAuth } from "@paperclipai/adapter-codex-local/server";
 import { nativeCompletionFeedback } from "./native-completion-feedback.js";
@@ -14288,6 +14289,8 @@ async function createRunnerdBackendWithinSessionClaim(
     executionTargetKind: target.kind,
     installRemoteArtifact: !pluginTask && remoteTarget && remoteCommandRunner
       ? createArtifactInstaller(remoteTarget.remoteCwd, remoteCommandRunner) : undefined,
+    imageGeneration: nativeReview || pluginTask ? undefined
+      : imageGenerationBindingForRun({ providerKind: input.execution.provider.kind, contextSnapshot: reviewRun?.contextSnapshot }),
     readRemoteWorkspaceFile: !pluginTask && remoteTarget && remoteCommandRunner
       ? (file) => readVerifiedRemoteWorkspaceFile({ runner: remoteCommandRunner, workspaceRoot: remoteTarget.remoteCwd, ...file })
       : undefined,
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-resume.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-resume.ts
index 08d2e9287e..2a2155d9d7 100644
--- a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-resume.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-resume.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export function nativeToolContractFingerprintForTarget(
   return `sha256:${createHash("sha256")
     .update(
       JSON.stringify({
-        schema: "paperclip.native-tool-contract.v18",
+        schema: "paperclip.native-tool-contract.v19",
         executionTargetKind,
         advertisementPolicy: {
           // Direct provider threads retain declarations from thread/start.
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ export function nativeToolContractFingerprintForTarget(
           historicalChatAttachments:
             "always_advertised_conversation_binding_gated.v1",
           registerDeliverable: "verified_local_or_remote_workspace.v2",
+          // Advertised only to Codex runs admitted on an OpenAI API-key
+          // connection; the key stays in the server.
+          generateImage: "codex_openai_api_key_connection_server_key.v1",
           readChatAttachment: "always_advertised_run_scope_local_staging.v2",
           structuredHumanInput:
             "always_advertised_run_issue_agent_binding_gated_current_task_description.v2",
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ export function nativeToolContractFingerprintForTarget(
         },
         tools: [
           { name: "register_deliverable", version: 2 },
+          { name: "generate_image", semanticContract: "paperclip.server-openai-image-generation.v1", version: 1 },
           {
             name: "read_current_wake_comments",
             semanticContract: "paperclip.server-current-wake-comments.v1",
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/paperclip-runner-tool-authority.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/paperclip-runner-tool-authority.ts
index 696f74781d..5417f052b4 100644
--- a/server/src/services/native-runtime/paperclip-runner-tool-authority.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/paperclip-runner-tool-authority.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import { budgetServiceInTransaction } from "../budgets.js";
 import { resolveTaskWatchdogMutationScope, taskWatchdogScopeAllowsIssueMutation } from "../task-watchdog-scope.js";
 import { resolveNewTaskParent } from "../issue-hierarchy.js";
 import { DOWNLOAD_ARTIFACT, DOWNLOAD_ARTIFACT_DEFINITION, downloadArtifactSchema, createArtifactInstaller, type ArtifactInstaller } from "./artifact-transfer.js";
+import { GENERATE_IMAGE, GENERATE_IMAGE_DEFINITION, GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL, generateImageSchema, generatedImageDestination, imageChargeCostEvent, imageIdentity, ImageGenerationProviderError, priceGeneratedImage, requestOpenAiImage, uncertainImageCharge, writeGeneratedImageLocally } from "./generate-image-tool.js";
+import { aiConnectionService } from "../ai-connections.js";
+import { createCostEventInTransaction } from "../costs.js";
+import { withOperationAccountingTransaction } from "../accounting-transaction.js";
 import { notifyStatusCardIssueChange } from "../status-card-notifications.js";
 import { nativeRunKeyScope, nativeSkillTestToolAllowed, assertNativeSkillTestTool } from "./native-skill-test-scope.js";
 import { notifyAttentionRetentionWork } from "../retention-work-notifications.js";
@@ -212,6 +216,8 @@ type Binding = {
   readRemoteWorkspaceFile?: RemoteWorkspaceFileReader;
   readRemoteTaskFile?: RemoteWorkspaceFileReader;
   installRemoteArtifact?: ArtifactInstaller;
+  /** Server-derived from the run's admitted OpenAI API-key connection; never tool input. */
+  imageGeneration?: { connectionId: string; grantId: string };
   readRemoteApiFile?: (path: string, maxBytes: number) => Promise<Buffer>;
   currentWakeComments?: CurrentWakeCommentsBinding;
   chatAttachmentReadScope?: NativeChatAttachmentReadScope;
@@ -392,6 +398,7 @@ export class PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority {
     if (!this.binding.firstPartyOnly && !this.binding.museRuntime && !this.binding.dotRuntime && workMode === "standard"
       && this.binding.workspaceRoot && runnerApiToolsEnabled(this.binding.companyId, this.binding.apiToolsEnabled)
       && (this.binding.executionTargetKind === "remote" ? this.binding.installRemoteArtifact : process.platform === "linux")) definitions.push(DOWNLOAD_ARTIFACT_DEFINITION);
+    if (this.#imageGenerationAdvertised(workMode)) definitions.push(GENERATE_IMAGE_DEFINITION);
     definitions.push(READ_CURRENT_WAKE_COMMENTS_TOOL_DEFINITION);
     definitions.push(LIST_CHAT_ATTACHMENTS_TOOL_DEFINITION);
     definitions.push(REUSE_CHAT_ATTACHMENT_TOOL_DEFINITION);
@@ -413,6 +420,13 @@ export class PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority {
     if (!this.binding.museRuntime) await this.binding.assertBridgeAuthority?.();
     const context = await this.#boundContext({ tool: call.tool });
     const { run } = context;
+    if (call.tool === GENERATE_IMAGE) {
+      const input = generateImageSchema.safeParse(call.arguments);
+      const receipt = record(record(run.resultJson?.imageToolReceipts)[toolCallKey(call.callId)]);
+      if (!input.success || receipt.digest !== toolInputDigest(input.data)) return null;
+      if (receipt.state === "charged") await this.#recordImageCharge(toolCallKey(call.callId), record(receipt.charge));
+      return receipt.state === "completed" && Object.hasOwn(receipt, "result") ? { result: receipt.result } : null;
+    }
     if (call.tool === DOWNLOAD_ARTIFACT) {
       try { return { result: await this.#downloadArtifact(call.arguments, true) }; }
       catch (error) {
@@ -637,6 +651,7 @@ export class PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority {
     if (this.binding.firstPartyOnly && (call.tool === READ_TOOL_RESULT || this.binding.assignedMcpTools?.has(call.tool) || isConnectorTool(call.tool)
       || RUNTIME_CONNECTION_TOOL_DEFINITIONS.some(tool => tool.name === call.tool))) throw forbidden("This Grok Bot connection exposes first-party Paperclip operations. Use your own provider apps under their existing permissions.");
     if (call.tool === DOWNLOAD_ARTIFACT) return this.#downloadArtifact(call.arguments);
+    if (call.tool === GENERATE_IMAGE) return this.#generateImage(call.callId, call.arguments);
     if (call.tool === READ_TOOL_RESULT) {
       await this.#boundContext({ tool: call.tool });
       return this.#readToolResult(call.arguments);
@@ -1178,6 +1193,172 @@ export class PaperclipRunnerToolAuthority {
     }
   }
 
+  #imageGenerationAdvertised(workMode: string) {
+    return Boolean(this.binding.imageGeneration) && !this.binding.firstPartyOnly && !this.binding.museRuntime && !this.binding.dotRuntime
+      && !this.binding.nativeReview && workMode === "standard" && Boolean(this.binding.workspaceRoot)
+      && (this.binding.executionTargetKind !== "remote" || Boolean(this.binding.installRemoteArtifact));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Makes one image with the run's existing OpenAI API key. The key is read
+   * here, in the server, and sent only to OpenAI; it never reaches the
+   * provider process or the agent's shell. One receipt per provider call ID
+   * means a retried or recovered call replays instead of paying twice.
+   */
+  async #generateImage(callId: string, value: unknown): Promise<unknown> {
+    const input = generateImageSchema.parse(value);
+    const binding = this.binding.imageGeneration;
+    const initial = await this.#boundContext({ tool: GENERATE_IMAGE });
+    if (!binding || !this.#imageGenerationAdvertised(initial.issue.workMode) || initial.issue.workMode !== "standard") {
+      throw forbidden("Image generation is unavailable to this run or provider");
+    }
+    const key = toolCallKey(callId);
+    const digest = toolInputDigest(input);
+    const priorReceipt = (resultJson: unknown): { result: unknown } | { charged: Record<string, unknown> } | undefined => {
+      const receipt = record(record(record(resultJson).imageToolReceipts)[key]);
+      if (!Object.keys(receipt).length) return undefined;
+      if (receipt.digest !== digest) throw badRequest("This tool call ID was already used for a different image request");
+      if (receipt.state === "completed" && Object.hasOwn(receipt, "result")) return { result: receipt.result };
+      if (receipt.state === "failed") throw badRequest(String(receipt.error ?? "Image generation failed"));
+      if (receipt.state === "charged") return { charged: receipt };
+      throw new SemanticToolOutcomeUnknownError("An earlier attempt of this image call did not finish. Call generate_image again with a new request if the image is still needed.");
+    };
+    const replay = priorReceipt(initial.run.resultJson);
+    if (replay && "charged" in replay) return this.#settleInterruptedImage(key, replay.charged);
+    if (replay) return replay.result;
+    const authorize = async () => {
+      const current = await this.#boundContext({ tool: GENERATE_IMAGE });
+      if (!this.#imageGenerationAdvertised(current.issue.workMode)) throw forbidden("Image generation is unavailable to this run or provider");
+      const decision = await authorizationService(this.db).decide({ actor: this.#privacyActor(current.run), action: "issue:mutate",
+        resource: { type: "issue", companyId: this.binding.companyId, issueId: current.issue.id } });
+      if (!decision.allowed) throw forbidden(decision.explanation);
+      // #boundContext checks company and agent budgets; spending also needs the task's project.
+      if (current.issue.projectId && await budgetServiceInTransaction(this.db).getInvocationBlock(this.binding.companyId, this.binding.agentId,
+        { issueId: current.issue.id, projectId: current.issue.projectId })) throw forbidden("Company or budget authority unavailable");
+      await assertNoCaseHandoffMutation(this.db, this.binding.runId, this.binding.issueId);
+      return current;
+    };
+    const current = await authorize();
+    const connections = aiConnectionService(this.db);
+    const connection = await connections.selectImageGeneration({ companyId: this.binding.companyId, agentId: this.binding.agentId,
+      connectionId: binding.connectionId, grantId: binding.grantId, userId: current.run.responsibleUserId });
+    const apiKey = await connections.credential(connection, 0, { responsibleUserId: current.run.responsibleUserId, actorType: "agent",
+      actorId: this.binding.agentId, issueId: this.binding.issueId, heartbeatRunId: this.binding.runId });
+    if (!apiKey) throw forbidden("Image generation needs an OpenAI API key");
+    const setReceipt = (receipt: Record<string, unknown>, claim = false) => this.db.update(heartbeatRuns).set({
+      resultJson: sql`jsonb_set(coalesce(${heartbeatRuns.resultJson}, '{}'::jsonb), '{imageToolReceipts}',
+        coalesce(${heartbeatRuns.resultJson} -> 'imageToolReceipts', '{}'::jsonb) || ${JSON.stringify({ [key]: { digest, ...receipt } })}::jsonb)`,
+    }).where(and(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, this.binding.runId), eq(heartbeatRuns.companyId, this.binding.companyId),
+      ...(claim ? [sql`not (coalesce(${heartbeatRuns.resultJson} -> 'imageToolReceipts', '{}'::jsonb) ? ${key})`] : [])))
+      .returning({ id: heartbeatRuns.id });
+    // Claim the call before spending; a concurrent duplicate replays the winner.
+    if (!(await setReceipt({ state: "started" }, true)).length) {
+      const [row] = await this.db.select({ resultJson: heartbeatRuns.resultJson }).from(heartbeatRuns).where(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, this.binding.runId));
+      const raced = priorReceipt(row?.resultJson);
+      if (raced && "charged" in raced) return this.#settleInterruptedImage(key, raced.charged);
+      if (raced) return raced.result;
+      throw new SemanticToolOutcomeUnknownError("This image call is already in progress.");
+    }
+    const details = { model: GENERATE_IMAGE_MODEL, size: input.size, quality: input.quality, promptChars: input.prompt.length };
+    const audit = async (outcome: string, extra: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => { await logActivity(this.db, {
+      companyId: this.binding.companyId, actorType: "agent", actorId: this.binding.agentId, runId: this.binding.runId,
+      action: "runner.image_generate", entityType: "issue", entityId: this.binding.issueId, details: { ...details, ...extra, outcome } }); };
+    await audit("started");
+    // Stop, reassignment or a budget stop can commit while the writes above
+    // wait. Recheck live authority as the last step before paying.
+    try {
+      const live = await authorize();
+      // The grant can be revoked while the writes above wait; a revoked grant
+      // does not delete the key, so reload connection access too.
+      await connections.selectImageGeneration({ companyId: this.binding.companyId, agentId: this.binding.agentId,
+        connectionId: binding.connectionId, grantId: binding.grantId, userId: live.run.responsibleUserId });
+    } catch (error) {
+      await setReceipt({ state: "failed", error: "Image generation was stopped before any request was sent" }).catch(() => undefined);
+      await audit("refused").catch(() => undefined);
+      throw error;
+    }
+    let image: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof requestOpenAiImage>>;
+    try {
+      image = await requestOpenAiImage({ ...input, apiKey });
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message.slice(0, 500) : "Image generation failed";
+      if (!(error instanceof ImageGenerationProviderError && error.rejected)) {
+        // OpenAI may have generated and billed this image. Record unknown spend
+        // through the same settlement path; run accounting retries it.
+        const charge = uncertainImageCharge({ projectId: current.issue.projectId ?? null, reason: message });
+        await setReceipt({ state: "charged", charge, error: message }).catch(() => undefined);
+        // Settle only after the spend is recorded; otherwise run accounting
+        // still finds the `charged` receipt and records it later.
+        const recorded = await this.#recordImageCharge(key, charge).then(() => true, () => false);
+        if (recorded) await setReceipt({ state: "failed", charge, error: `The image request may have been billed but returned no usable image: ${message}` }).catch(() => undefined);
+        await audit("unconfirmed", { error: message }).catch(() => undefined);
+        throw badRequest(`The image request may have been billed but returned no usable image: ${message}`);
+      }
+      await setReceipt({ state: "failed", error: message }).catch(() => undefined);
+      await audit("failed", { error: message }).catch(() => undefined);
+      throw badRequest(message);
+    }
+    const price = priceGeneratedImage(image);
+    const identity = imageIdentity(image.bytes);
+    const destination = generatedImageDestination(input.name);
+    const result = { outcome: "completed", path: destination, contentType: "image/png", ...identity, model: image.model, size: input.size,
+      costUsd: price.costUsd, guidance: "Saved in the workspace root. Move or copy it where the task needs it; use register_deliverable if the user should receive it." };
+    // The provider has charged. Persist the charge before any other step, so a
+    // failed save, accounting write or process crash can still settle it.
+    const charge = { model: image.model, providerRequestId: image.providerRequestId, usage: image.usage, costCents: price.costCents,
+      pricingProvenance: price.pricingProvenance, projectId: current.issue.projectId ?? null, destination, ...identity,
+      chargedAt: new Date().toISOString() };
+    try {
+      await setReceipt({ state: "charged", charge });
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Without the receipt, record the spend now; the call cannot be confirmed.
+      await this.#recordImageCharge(key, charge).catch(() => undefined);
+      await audit("unconfirmed", { destination, ...identity, costCents: price.costCents }).catch(() => undefined);
+      throw new SemanticToolOutcomeUnknownError("The image was generated but its receipt could not be saved. Do not retry this call.", { cause: error });
+    }
+    let saveError: unknown;
+    try {
+      await authorize();
+      if (this.binding.executionTargetKind === "remote") {
+        await this.binding.installRemoteArtifact!({ destination, ...identity, bytes: image.bytes, authorize: async () => { await authorize(); } });
+      } else {
+        await writeGeneratedImageLocally(this.binding.workspaceRoot!, destination, image.bytes);
+      }
+    } catch (error) { saveError = error; }
+    // Spend is recorded whether or not the image was saved. The budget
+    // service evaluates hard-stops here.
+    await this.#recordImageCharge(key, charge);
+    if (saveError !== undefined) {
+      if (!(saveError instanceof SemanticToolOutcomeUnknownError)) {
+        await setReceipt({ state: "failed", error: "The image was generated but could not be saved to the workspace" }).catch(() => undefined);
+      }
+      await audit("unconfirmed", { destination, ...identity, costCents: price.costCents }).catch(() => undefined);
+      throw saveError;
+    }
+    await setReceipt({ state: "completed", result });
+    await audit("completed", { destination, ...identity, costCents: price.costCents });
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  async #recordImageCharge(key: string, charge: Record<string, unknown>) {
+    await withOperationAccountingTransaction(this.db, this.binding.companyId, (tx, publications) => createCostEventInTransaction(tx, this.binding.companyId,
+      imageChargeCostEvent({ agentId: this.binding.agentId, issueId: this.binding.issueId, runId: this.binding.runId, key, charge }), publications));
+  }
+
+  /** An interrupted call was paid for but not confirmed saved: record the spend, then settle it as failed. */
+  async #settleInterruptedImage(key: string, receipt: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<never> {
+    const charge = record(receipt.charge);
+    await this.#recordImageCharge(key, charge);
+    const message = typeof charge.destination === "string"
+      ? `An earlier attempt generated the image but did not confirm saving it. Check whether ${charge.destination} exists in the workspace before generating another.`
+      : "An earlier image request may have been billed but returned no usable image.";
+    await this.db.update(heartbeatRuns).set({
+      resultJson: sql`jsonb_set(coalesce(${heartbeatRuns.resultJson}, '{}'::jsonb), '{imageToolReceipts}',
+        coalesce(${heartbeatRuns.resultJson} -> 'imageToolReceipts', '{}'::jsonb) || ${JSON.stringify({ [key]: { ...receipt, state: "failed", error: message } })}::jsonb)`,
+    }).where(and(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, this.binding.runId), eq(heartbeatRuns.companyId, this.binding.companyId)));
+    throw badRequest(message);
+  }
+
   async #readToolResult(value: unknown): Promise<unknown> {
     if (!this.binding.assignedMcpTools) throw forbidden("Saved app-tool results are unavailable to this run");
     const input = readToolResultSchema.parse(value);
diff --git a/server/src/services/run-cost-accounting.ts b/server/src/services/run-cost-accounting.ts
index 7afc306ab7..cb4244dc60 100644
--- a/server/src/services/run-cost-accounting.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/run-cost-accounting.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { conflict } from "../errors.js";
 import { logActivity } from "./activity-log.js";
 import { REMOTE_RUNNER_RECONNECT_GRACE_MS } from "./native-runtime/native-runner-recovery-contract.js";
 import { createCostEventInTransaction } from "./costs.js";
+import { settleChargedImageReceiptsInTransaction } from "./native-runtime/generate-image-tool.js";
 import type { BudgetServiceHooks } from "./budgets.js";
 import { queueBudgetEvaluation } from "./budget-evaluation-work.js";
 import { ensureRuntimeAccountingBaseline } from "./runtime-accounting-totals.js";
@@ -216,6 +217,11 @@ export async function accountRunCost(db: Db, runId: string, hooks: BudgetService
     )).for("key share");
     let [run] = await tx.select().from(heartbeatRuns).where(eq(heartbeatRuns.id, runId)).for("update");
     if (!run?.costAccountingPending || !terminalStatuses.includes(run.status)) return false;
+    // Tool-side image spend is separate from the provider receipt; settle any
+    // paid image whose own accounting write did not complete.
+    for (const projectId of new Set(await settleChargedImageReceiptsInTransaction(tx, run, publications))) {
+      await queueBudgetEvaluation(tx, { companyId: run.companyId, agentId: run.agentId, projectId });
+    }
     if (run.costAccountedAt) {
       if (object(run.usageJson).accountingLateReceiptPending === true) {
         // Clearing late debt can release an admission hold too.