diff --git a/frigate/config/camera/genai.py b/frigate/config/camera/genai.py
index 721eeb60d8..902c94c42b 100644
--- a/frigate/config/camera/genai.py
+++ b/frigate/config/camera/genai.py
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ class GenAIConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
         title="Model",
         description="The model to use from the provider for generating descriptions or summaries.",
     )
-    provider: GenAIProviderEnum | None = Field(
-        default=None,
+    provider: GenAIProviderEnum = Field(
         title="Provider",
         description="The GenAI provider to use (for example: ollama, gemini, openai).",
     )
diff --git a/web/src/components/config-form/sections/section-special-cases.ts b/web/src/components/config-form/sections/section-special-cases.ts
index 2b71ea4a20..d8121aea8b 100644
--- a/web/src/components/config-form/sections/section-special-cases.ts
+++ b/web/src/components/config-form/sections/section-special-cases.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { JsonObject, JsonValue } from "@/types/configForm";
  * Sections that require special handling at the global level.
  * Add new section paths here as needed.
  */
-const SPECIAL_CASE_SECTIONS = ["motion", "detectors"] as const;
+const SPECIAL_CASE_SECTIONS = ["motion", "detectors", "genai"] as const;
 
 /**
  * Check if a section requires special case handling.
@@ -53,6 +53,29 @@ export function modifySchemaForSection(
     return schemaWithoutDefault;
   }
 
+  if (sectionPath === "genai") {
+    const additional = schema.additionalProperties;
+    if (
+      additional &&
+      typeof additional === "object" &&
+      !Array.isArray(additional)
+    ) {
+      const props = (additional as RJSFSchema).properties;
+      if (props && typeof props.provider === "object") {
+        return {
+          ...schema,
+          additionalProperties: {
+            ...additional,
+            properties: {
+              ...props,
+              provider: { ...(props.provider as object), default: "openai" },
+            },
+          },
+        };
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   return schema;
 }