diff --git a/frigate/data_processing/post/types.py b/frigate/data_processing/post/types.py
index 02d27ccced..b4deb1ddd4 100644
--- a/frigate/data_processing/post/types.py
+++ b/frigate/data_processing/post/types.py
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
 class ReviewMetadata(BaseModel):
     model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore", protected_namespaces=())
 
+    observations: list[str] = Field(
+        default_factory=list,
+        description="Chronological list of significant observations from the frames, written before the scene narrative is composed.",
+    )
     title: str = Field(
         description="A short title characterizing what took place and where, under 10 words."
     )
diff --git a/frigate/genai/__init__.py b/frigate/genai/__init__.py
index 89e9072f44..203619dea0 100644
--- a/frigate/genai/__init__.py
+++ b/frigate/genai/__init__.py
@@ -163,6 +163,38 @@ Each line represents a detection state, not necessarily unique individuals. The
             if prop is not None:
                 prop.update(hints)
 
+        # observations is a chain-of-thought-by-schema field: forcing the model
+        # to enumerate concrete facts before writing scene/title surfaces details
+        # the narrative would otherwise gloss past (e.g. brief vehicle arrivals
+        # overshadowed by a longer activity). The minItems floor scales with
+        # event duration so longer clips get more observations.
+        observations_prop = schema.get("properties", {}).get("observations")
+        if observations_prop is not None:
+            duration_seconds = float(review_data.get("duration") or 0)
+            min_observations = max(3, round(duration_seconds / 5))
+            max_observations = min_observations + 8
+            observations_prop["description"] = (
+                "Enumerate the significant observations across all frames, in "
+                "chronological order, BEFORE composing the scene narrative. "
+                "Include the very start of the activity — for example, a "
+                "vehicle entering the frame or pulling into the driveway — "
+                "even if it lasts only a few frames and the rest of the clip "
+                "is dominated by a longer activity. Include each arrival, "
+                "departure, motion event, object handled, and notable change "
+                "in position or state. Each item is a single concrete fact "
+                "written as a complete sentence (e.g., 'A blue sedan turns "
+                "from the street into the driveway', 'Nick exits the driver "
+                "side carrying a plant pot'). Do not summarize, interpret, or "
+                "assign meaning here — that belongs in the scene field."
+            )
+            observations_prop["minItems"] = min_observations
+            observations_prop["maxItems"] = max_observations
+            observations_prop["items"] = {"type": "string", "minLength": 20}
+
+            required = schema.setdefault("required", [])
+            if "observations" not in required:
+                required.append("observations")
+
         # OpenAI strict mode requires additionalProperties: false on all objects
         schema["additionalProperties"] = False