diff --git a/plugins/image_gen/xai/__init__.py b/plugins/image_gen/xai/__init__.py
index 31a0b719bb6fc..f76acf492e17a 100644
--- a/plugins/image_gen/xai/__init__.py
+++ b/plugins/image_gen/xai/__init__.py
@@ -100,8 +100,29 @@ def _load_xai_config() -> Dict[str, Any]:
         return {}
 
 
-def _resolve_model() -> Tuple[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Decide which model to use and return ``(model_id, meta)``."""
+def _load_image_gen_config() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Read the top-level ``image_gen`` section from config.yaml."""
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+
+        cfg = load_config()
+        section = cfg.get("image_gen") if isinstance(cfg, dict) else None
+        return section if isinstance(section, dict) else {}
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.debug("Could not load image_gen config: %s", exc)
+        return {}
+
+
+def _resolve_model(explicit: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Decide which model to use and return ``(model_id, meta)``.
+
+    Precedence: explicit caller override (e.g. the dispatched ``model`` kwarg)
+    → ``XAI_IMAGE_MODEL`` env → scoped ``image_gen.xai.model`` → top-level
+    ``image_gen.model`` (what ``hermes tools`` writes) → :data:`DEFAULT_MODEL`.
+    """
+    if isinstance(explicit, str) and explicit.strip() in _MODELS:
+        return explicit.strip(), _MODELS[explicit.strip()]
+
     env_override = os.environ.get("XAI_IMAGE_MODEL")
     if env_override and env_override in _MODELS:
         return env_override, _MODELS[env_override]
@@ -111,6 +132,10 @@ def _resolve_model() -> Tuple[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
     if candidate and candidate in _MODELS:
         return candidate, _MODELS[candidate]
 
+    top = _load_image_gen_config().get("model")
+    if isinstance(top, str) and top in _MODELS:
+        return top, _MODELS[top]
+
     return DEFAULT_MODEL, _MODELS[DEFAULT_MODEL]
 
 
@@ -234,7 +259,7 @@ def generate(
                 aspect_ratio=aspect_ratio,
             )
 
-        model_id, meta = _resolve_model()
+        model_id, meta = _resolve_model(kwargs.get("model"))
         aspect = resolve_aspect_ratio(aspect_ratio)
         xai_ar = _XAI_ASPECT_RATIOS.get(aspect, "1:1")
         resolution = _resolve_resolution()
diff --git a/tests/plugins/image_gen/test_xai_provider.py b/tests/plugins/image_gen/test_xai_provider.py
index cf9708dae1d15..a932d650f58e8 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/image_gen/test_xai_provider.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/image_gen/test_xai_provider.py
@@ -120,6 +120,43 @@ def test_custom_model(self, monkeypatch):
         model_id, _ = _resolve_model()
         assert model_id == "grok-imagine-image"
 
+    def test_scoped_config_model(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("XAI_IMAGE_MODEL", raising=False)
+        from plugins.image_gen.xai import _resolve_model
+
+        with patch(
+            "plugins.image_gen.xai._load_xai_config",
+            return_value={"model": "grok-imagine-image-quality"},
+        ):
+            model_id, _ = _resolve_model()
+        assert model_id == "grok-imagine-image-quality"
+
+    def test_top_level_config_model(self, monkeypatch):
+        """A model picked via ``hermes tools`` is persisted to top-level
+        ``image_gen.model``; the xAI provider must honor it, not only the
+        scoped ``image_gen.xai.model``.
+        """
+        monkeypatch.delenv("XAI_IMAGE_MODEL", raising=False)
+        from plugins.image_gen.xai import _resolve_model
+
+        with patch("plugins.image_gen.xai._load_xai_config", return_value={}), patch(
+            "plugins.image_gen.xai._load_image_gen_config",
+            return_value={"model": "grok-imagine-image-quality"},
+        ):
+            model_id, _ = _resolve_model()
+        assert model_id == "grok-imagine-image-quality"
+
+    def test_explicit_model_kwarg_wins_over_config(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("XAI_IMAGE_MODEL", raising=False)
+        from plugins.image_gen.xai import _resolve_model
+
+        with patch("plugins.image_gen.xai._load_xai_config", return_value={}), patch(
+            "plugins.image_gen.xai._load_image_gen_config",
+            return_value={"model": "grok-imagine-image"},
+        ):
+            model_id, _ = _resolve_model("grok-imagine-image-quality")
+        assert model_id == "grok-imagine-image-quality"
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Generate tests