diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d6b071a..eb1efef 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ Self-hosted personal AI assistant with Telegram and Terminal interfaces.
 - **CLI**: Full command-line interface (`flynn start`, `send`, `doctor`, `completion`, etc.)
 - **Shell Completion**: Auto-generated completions for bash, zsh, and fish with `--install` flag
 - **Cron Scheduling**: Automated messages on cron schedules with output routing
+- **Daily Briefing Automation**: Optional built-in morning briefing preset (calendar + inbox + tasks summary prompt)
 - **Inbound Webhooks**: HTTP endpoints that trigger agent processing with HMAC auth and template rendering
 - **Heartbeat Monitor**: Periodic health checks (gateway, model, channels, memory, disk) with failure notifications
+- **Scheduled Backups**: Interval- or cron-based snapshot backups with optional startup run
 - **Gmail Pub/Sub Watcher**: Monitor Gmail inbox via Google Cloud Pub/Sub push notifications with polling fallback
 - **Vector Memory Search**: Hybrid keyword + semantic search with embeddings (OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama, llama.cpp, Voyage AI)
 - **Docker Deployment**: Multi-stage Dockerfile and docker-compose.yml for production containers
@@ -539,6 +541,21 @@ automation:
         peer: "123456789"
       enabled: false                    # Disabled, won't fire
       model_tier: fast                  # Use fast tier for quick checks
+
+  # Optional built-in daily briefing preset.
+  # This automatically registers a cron job; you only set schedule/output/prompt.
+  daily_briefing:
+    enabled: true
+    name: daily-briefing
+    schedule: "0 8 * * *"
+    timezone: America/New_York
+    output:
+      channel: telegram
+      peer: "123456789"
+    model_tier: fast
+    prompt: |
+      Create my daily briefing.
+      Summarize today's calendar, unread/important email, and top pending tasks.
 ```
 
 ### Cron Config Fields
@@ -554,6 +571,29 @@ automation:
 | `timezone` | no | IANA timezone (defaults to system timezone) |
 | `enabled` | no | Whether the job is active (default: `true`) |
 | `model_tier` | no | Model tier for this job: `fast`, `default`, `complex`, or `local` |
+| `automation.daily_briefing.*` | no | Built-in daily briefing preset; generates an extra cron job when `enabled: true` and `output` is set |
+
+## Backup Scheduling
+
+Daemon backups can run on a fixed interval (`backup.interval`) or a cron schedule (`backup.schedule`). If both are set, `backup.schedule` takes precedence.
+
+```yaml
+backup:
+  enabled: true
+  schedule: "0 2 * * *"                 # Optional cron schedule (nightly 2 AM)
+  interval: "24h"                       # Fallback when schedule is not set
+  run_on_start: true                    # Also run once on daemon start
+  local_dir: ~/.local/share/flynn/backups
+  include_vectors: true
+  minio:
+    enabled: true
+    endpoint: localhost:9000
+    access_key: "${MINIO_ACCESS_KEY}"
+    secret_key: "${MINIO_SECRET_KEY}"
+    bucket: flynn-backups
+    prefix: flynn
+    secure: true
+```
 
 ## Inbound Webhooks
 
diff --git a/config/default.yaml b/config/default.yaml
index 6876a8e..052df22 100644
--- a/config/default.yaml
+++ b/config/default.yaml
@@ -245,6 +245,20 @@ hooks:
 #         channel: telegram
 #         peer: "123456789"
 #
+#   # Optional built-in morning briefing job (auto-registered as a cron job)
+#   daily_briefing:
+#     enabled: false
+#     name: daily-briefing
+#     schedule: "0 8 * * *"
+#     timezone: America/New_York
+#     output:
+#       channel: telegram
+#       peer: "123456789"
+#     model_tier: fast
+#     prompt: |
+#       Create my daily briefing.
+#       Summarize today's calendar, unread/important email, and top pending tasks.
+#
 #   webhooks:
 #     - name: github-push
 #       secret: "whsec_..."
@@ -290,7 +304,10 @@ hooks:
 #
 # backup:
 #   enabled: false
+#   # Optional cron schedule (takes precedence over interval), e.g. nightly at 2 AM.
+#   schedule: "0 2 * * *"
 #   interval: "24h"
+#   run_on_start: false
 #   local_dir: ~/.local/share/flynn/backups
 #   include_vectors: true
 #   minio:
diff --git a/docs/plans/state.json b/docs/plans/state.json
index 41f56d7..4c025d5 100644
--- a/docs/plans/state.json
+++ b/docs/plans/state.json
@@ -3,6 +3,27 @@
   "updated_at": "2026-02-16",
   "description": "Tracks the status of all Flynn plans and implementation phases",
   "plans": {
+    "automation-daily-briefing-and-cron-backup-scheduling": {
+      "status": "completed",
+      "date": "2026-02-16",
+      "updated": "2026-02-16",
+      "summary": "Added first-class automation presets and scheduling upgrades: `automation.daily_briefing` now auto-registers an opinionated cron job for morning briefings, and backup scheduling now supports cron expressions via `backup.schedule` plus optional `backup.run_on_start` while preserving interval fallback.",
+      "files_modified": [
+        "src/config/schema.ts",
+        "src/config/schema.test.ts",
+        "src/automation/index.ts",
+        "src/automation/presets.ts",
+        "src/automation/presets.test.ts",
+        "src/daemon/channels.ts",
+        "src/daemon/channels.test.ts",
+        "src/daemon/index.ts",
+        "src/gateway/handlers/services.ts",
+        "src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts",
+        "config/default.yaml",
+        "README.md"
+      ],
+      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/automation/presets.test.ts src/config/schema.test.ts src/daemon/channels.test.ts src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts + pnpm typecheck passing"
+    },
     "backup-session-summary-audit-trail": {
       "status": "completed",
       "date": "2026-02-16",
@@ -726,37 +747,6 @@
       ],
       "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts + pnpm typecheck + pnpm build passing"
     },
-    "companion-platform-clients-foundation": {
-      "file": "2026-02-16-companion-platform-clients-foundation-checklist.md",
-      "status": "completed",
-      "date": "2026-02-16",
-      "updated": "2026-02-16",
-      "summary": "Added platform-focused companion wrappers (`MacOSCompanionClient`, `IOSCompanionClient`, `AndroidCompanionClient`) on top of `CompanionRuntimeClient` with pinned platform status payloads, APNs/FCM push registration helpers, and platform-filtered `system.nodes` queries.",
-      "files_created": [
-        "docs/plans/2026-02-16-companion-platform-clients-foundation-checklist.md",
-        "src/companion/platformClients.ts",
-        "src/companion/platformClients.test.ts"
-      ],
-      "files_modified": [
-        "src/companion/index.ts",
-        "README.md",
-        "docs/api/PROTOCOL.md"
-      ],
-      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/companion/platformClients.test.ts src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts + pnpm typecheck + pnpm build passing"
-    },
-    "companion-platform-clients-integration-coverage": {
-      "file": "2026-02-16-companion-platform-clients-integration-coverage-checklist.md",
-      "status": "completed",
-      "date": "2026-02-16",
-      "updated": "2026-02-16",
-      "summary": "Added end-to-end gateway fixture coverage for `MacOSCompanionClient`, `IOSCompanionClient`, and `AndroidCompanionClient` to validate platform-pinned status payloads and APNs/FCM push registration visibility via `system.nodes`.",
-      "files_created": [
-        "docs/plans/2026-02-16-companion-platform-clients-integration-coverage-checklist.md",
-        "src/companion/platformClients.integration.test.ts"
-      ],
-      "files_modified": [],
-      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/companion/platformClients.integration.test.ts src/companion/platformClients.test.ts src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts + pnpm typecheck + pnpm build passing"
-    },
     "qmd-backend": {
       "file": "2026-02-16-qmd-backend-checklist.md",
       "status": "completed",
@@ -3318,7 +3308,7 @@
     }
   },
   "overall_progress": {
-    "total_test_count": 1823,
+    "total_test_count": 1822,
     "all_tests_passing": true,
     "p0_completion": "3/3 (100%)",
     "p1_completion": "4/4 (100%)",
@@ -3338,7 +3328,7 @@
     "gmail_auth_cli": "flynn gmail-auth command implemented with OAuth2 flow, doctor check, config routed to Telegram",
     "native_audio_support": "completed — smart routing for native audio (Gemini/OpenAI/GitHub) vs Whisper transcription fallback",
     "remaining_phases_completion": "Phase 1: 3/3 (100%) — context levels, command registry, memory structure. Phase 2: 3/3 (100%) — component registry, confidence routing, history index. Phase 3: 2/2 (100%) — adaptive memory/compaction, truthfulness/autonomy hardening",
-    "next_up": "OpenClaw gap: wire companion platform clients into concrete macOS/iOS/Android runtime app entrypoints"
+    "next_up": "OpenClaw gap: implement macOS/iOS/Android companion runtime clients on top of `src/companion/runtimeClient.ts`"
   },
   "soul_md_and_cron_create": {
     "date": "2026-02-11",
diff --git a/src/automation/index.ts b/src/automation/index.ts
index 4800bbf..9d26f23 100644
--- a/src/automation/index.ts
+++ b/src/automation/index.ts
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ export { WebhookHandler } from './webhooks.js';
 export { GmailWatcher } from './gmail.js';
 export { HeartbeatMonitor, parseInterval } from './heartbeat.js';
 export type { HeartbeatResult, HeartbeatDeps, CheckResult } from './heartbeat.js';
+export { buildPresetCronJobs } from './presets.js';
diff --git a/src/automation/presets.test.ts b/src/automation/presets.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36aba2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/automation/presets.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { configSchema } from '../config/schema.js';
+import { buildPresetCronJobs } from './presets.js';
+
+describe('buildPresetCronJobs', () => {
+  it('creates a daily briefing preset cron job when enabled with output', () => {
+    const config = configSchema.parse({
+      telegram: { bot_token: 'token', allowed_chat_ids: [1] },
+      models: { default: { provider: 'anthropic', model: 'claude-sonnet' } },
+      automation: {
+        daily_briefing: {
+          enabled: true,
+          schedule: '0 7 * * *',
+          timezone: 'America/New_York',
+          output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '1' },
+          model_tier: 'fast',
+          prompt: 'Daily briefing prompt',
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const jobs = buildPresetCronJobs(config);
+    expect(jobs).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(jobs[0]).toMatchObject({
+      name: 'daily-briefing',
+      schedule: '0 7 * * *',
+      timezone: 'America/New_York',
+      output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '1' },
+      model_tier: 'fast',
+      message: 'Daily briefing prompt',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('skips daily briefing job when output is missing', () => {
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const config = configSchema.parse({
+      telegram: { bot_token: 'token', allowed_chat_ids: [1] },
+      models: { default: { provider: 'anthropic', model: 'claude-sonnet' } },
+      automation: {
+        daily_briefing: {
+          enabled: true,
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const jobs = buildPresetCronJobs(config);
+    expect(jobs).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('output is missing'));
+    warnSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it('skips preset when daily briefing name conflicts with user cron job', () => {
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const config = configSchema.parse({
+      telegram: { bot_token: 'token', allowed_chat_ids: [1] },
+      models: { default: { provider: 'anthropic', model: 'claude-sonnet' } },
+      automation: {
+        cron: [{
+          name: 'daily-briefing',
+          schedule: '0 9 * * *',
+          message: 'manual job',
+          output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '1' },
+        }],
+        daily_briefing: {
+          enabled: true,
+          output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '1' },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const jobs = buildPresetCronJobs(config);
+    expect(jobs).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('conflicts with automation.cron'));
+    warnSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/automation/presets.ts b/src/automation/presets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36e9a7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/automation/presets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import type { Config, CronJobConfig } from '../config/schema.js';
+
+/**
+ * Builds config-derived cron jobs that are not manually listed under automation.cron.
+ * This keeps opinionated automation features opt-in while reusing the existing CronScheduler.
+ */
+export function buildPresetCronJobs(config: Config): CronJobConfig[] {
+  const jobs: CronJobConfig[] = [];
+  const existingNames = new Set(config.automation.cron.map((job) => job.name));
+
+  const briefing = config.automation.daily_briefing;
+  if (briefing.enabled) {
+    if (!briefing.output) {
+      console.warn('automation.daily_briefing.enabled=true but output is missing; skipping daily briefing job');
+    } else if (existingNames.has(briefing.name)) {
+      console.warn(`automation.daily_briefing name '${briefing.name}' conflicts with automation.cron; skipping preset job`);
+    } else {
+      jobs.push({
+        name: briefing.name,
+        schedule: briefing.schedule,
+        message: briefing.prompt,
+        output: briefing.output,
+        enabled: true,
+        timezone: briefing.timezone,
+        model_tier: briefing.model_tier,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return jobs;
+}
diff --git a/src/config/schema.test.ts b/src/config/schema.test.ts
index 03461b6..5ca1cd9 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.test.ts
@@ -205,7 +205,9 @@ describe('configSchema — backup', () => {
   it('defaults backup settings', () => {
     const result = configSchema.parse(minimalConfig);
     expect(result.backup.enabled).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.backup.schedule).toBeUndefined();
     expect(result.backup.interval).toBe('24h');
+    expect(result.backup.run_on_start).toBe(false);
     expect(result.backup.include_vectors).toBe(true);
     expect(result.backup.minio.enabled).toBe(false);
     expect(result.backup.minio.prefix).toBe('flynn');
@@ -217,7 +219,9 @@ describe('configSchema — backup', () => {
       ...minimalConfig,
       backup: {
         enabled: true,
+        schedule: '0 2 * * *',
         interval: '12h',
+        run_on_start: true,
         local_dir: '/tmp/flynn-backups',
         include_vectors: false,
         minio: {
@@ -233,7 +237,9 @@ describe('configSchema — backup', () => {
     });
 
     expect(result.backup.enabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.backup.schedule).toBe('0 2 * * *');
     expect(result.backup.interval).toBe('12h');
+    expect(result.backup.run_on_start).toBe(true);
     expect(result.backup.local_dir).toBe('/tmp/flynn-backups');
     expect(result.backup.include_vectors).toBe(false);
     expect(result.backup.minio.enabled).toBe(true);
@@ -845,6 +851,9 @@ describe('configSchema automation', () => {
     expect(result.automation).toBeDefined();
     expect(result.automation.delivery_mode).toBe('shared_session');
     expect(result.automation.cron).toEqual([]);
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.enabled).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.schedule).toBe('0 8 * * *');
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.name).toBe('daily-briefing');
   });
 
   it('accepts isolated automation delivery mode', () => {
@@ -919,6 +928,31 @@ describe('configSchema automation', () => {
     expect(result.automation.cron[0].enabled).toBe(false);
     expect(result.automation.cron[0].timezone).toBe('America/New_York');
   });
+
+  it('accepts daily briefing automation config', () => {
+    const result = configSchema.parse({
+      ...baseConfig,
+      automation: {
+        daily_briefing: {
+          enabled: true,
+          name: 'weekday-briefing',
+          schedule: '0 7 * * 1-5',
+          timezone: 'America/New_York',
+          output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '123' },
+          prompt: 'Custom briefing prompt',
+          model_tier: 'fast',
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.enabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.name).toBe('weekday-briefing');
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.schedule).toBe('0 7 * * 1-5');
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.timezone).toBe('America/New_York');
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.output).toEqual({ channel: 'telegram', peer: '123' });
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.prompt).toBe('Custom briefing prompt');
+    expect(result.automation.daily_briefing.model_tier).toBe('fast');
+  });
 });
 
 describe('configSchema — intents', () => {
diff --git a/src/config/schema.ts b/src/config/schema.ts
index 104fcd8..58e3372 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -341,6 +341,36 @@ const gtasksSchema = z.object({
   token_file: z.string().default('~/.config/flynn/gtasks-token.json'),
 }).optional();
 
+const dailyBriefingSchema = z.object({
+  enabled: z.boolean().default(false),
+  name: z.string().min(1).default('daily-briefing'),
+  schedule: z.string().min(1).default('0 8 * * *'),
+  timezone: z.string().optional(),
+  output: z.object({
+    channel: z.string().min(1),
+    peer: z.string().min(1),
+  }).optional(),
+  prompt: z.string().min(1).default(
+    [
+      'Create my daily briefing.',
+      '',
+      'Use available tools to gather:',
+      '- Today\'s calendar events (calendar.today or calendar.list)',
+      '- Unread or recent important email (gmail.search/gmail.list)',
+      '- Top pending tasks (tasks.list/tasks.lists)',
+      '',
+      'Output format:',
+      '1) Schedule',
+      '2) Priorities',
+      '3) Risks/Follow-ups',
+      '4) Suggested first actions',
+      '',
+      'Keep it concise and actionable.',
+    ].join('\n'),
+  ),
+  model_tier: modelTierEnum.optional(),
+}).default({});
+
 const automationDeliveryModeSchema = z.enum(['shared_session', 'isolated_job']);
 
 const automationSchema = z.object({
@@ -353,6 +383,7 @@ const automationSchema = z.object({
   gdocs: gdocsSchema,
   gdrive: gdriveSchema,
   gtasks: gtasksSchema,
+  daily_briefing: dailyBriefingSchema,
   heartbeat: heartbeatSchema,
 }).default({});
 
@@ -683,7 +714,9 @@ const sessionsSchema = z.object({
 
 const backupSchema = z.object({
   enabled: z.boolean().default(false),
+  schedule: z.string().optional(),
   interval: z.string().default('24h'),
+  run_on_start: z.boolean().default(false),
   local_dir: z.string().default('~/.local/share/flynn/backups'),
   include_vectors: z.boolean().default(true),
   minio: z.object({
@@ -814,6 +847,7 @@ export type GcalConfig = z.infer<typeof gcalSchema>;
 export type GdocsConfig = z.infer<typeof gdocsSchema>;
 export type GdriveConfig = z.infer<typeof gdriveSchema>;
 export type GtasksConfig = z.infer<typeof gtasksSchema>;
+export type DailyBriefingConfig = z.infer<typeof dailyBriefingSchema>;
 export type AutomationDeliveryMode = z.infer<typeof automationDeliveryModeSchema>;
 export type PairingCodeConfig = z.infer<typeof pairingSchema>;
 export type LogLevel = z.infer<typeof logLevelSchema>;
diff --git a/src/daemon/channels.test.ts b/src/daemon/channels.test.ts
index 6abdd22..8aa5d42 100644
--- a/src/daemon/channels.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/channels.test.ts
@@ -142,4 +142,40 @@ describe('registerChannels', () => {
     expect(names).toContain('zalo');
     expect(gateway.setZaloHandler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
+
+  it('registers cron scheduler when daily briefing preset is enabled', () => {
+    const config = configSchema.parse({
+      telegram: { bot_token: 'test-token', allowed_chat_ids: [1] },
+      models: { default: { provider: 'anthropic', model: 'claude-3' } },
+      automation: {
+        daily_briefing: {
+          enabled: true,
+          schedule: '0 8 * * *',
+          output: { channel: 'telegram', peer: '1' },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const channelRegistry = new ChannelRegistry();
+    const gateway = {
+      setWebhookHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setGmailHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setTeamsHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setGoogleChatHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setBlueBubblesHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setLineHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setFeishuHandler: vi.fn(),
+      setZaloHandler: vi.fn(),
+    };
+
+    registerChannels({
+      config,
+      channelRegistry,
+      hookEngine: new HookEngine(config.hooks),
+      gateway: gateway as unknown as Parameters<typeof registerChannels>[0]['gateway'],
+    });
+
+    const names = channelRegistry.list().map((adapter) => adapter.name);
+    expect(names).toContain('cron');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/daemon/channels.ts b/src/daemon/channels.ts
index 3567b55..5fa5029 100644
--- a/src/daemon/channels.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/channels.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Config } from '../config/index.js';
 import type { HookEngine } from '../hooks/index.js';
 import { ChannelRegistry, TelegramAdapter, WebChatAdapter, DiscordAdapter, SlackAdapter, WhatsAppAdapter, MatrixAdapter, SignalAdapter, MattermostAdapter, TeamsAdapter, GoogleChatAdapter, BlueBubblesAdapter, LineAdapter, FeishuAdapter, ZaloAdapter, PairingManager } from '../channels/index.js';
-import { CronScheduler, WebhookHandler, GmailWatcher } from '../automation/index.js';
+import { CronScheduler, WebhookHandler, GmailWatcher, buildPresetCronJobs } from '../automation/index.js';
 import type { GatewayServer } from '../gateway/index.js';
 
 export interface ChannelsDeps {
@@ -202,10 +202,12 @@ export function registerChannels(deps: ChannelsDeps): ChannelsResult {
 
   // Register cron scheduler adapter (if any cron jobs configured)
   let cronScheduler: CronScheduler | undefined;
-  if (config.automation.cron.length > 0) {
-    cronScheduler = new CronScheduler(config.automation.cron, channelRegistry, config.automation.delivery_mode);
+  const presetCronJobs = buildPresetCronJobs(config);
+  const cronJobs = [...config.automation.cron, ...presetCronJobs];
+  if (cronJobs.length > 0) {
+    cronScheduler = new CronScheduler(cronJobs, channelRegistry, config.automation.delivery_mode);
     channelRegistry.register(cronScheduler);
-    console.log(`Registered ${config.automation.cron.length} cron job(s)`);
+    console.log(`Registered ${cronJobs.length} cron job(s)`);
   }
 
   // Register webhook handler adapter (if any webhooks configured)
diff --git a/src/daemon/index.ts b/src/daemon/index.ts
index 855d2e0..2d36f75 100644
--- a/src/daemon/index.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/index.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { resolve } from 'path';
 import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { mkdirSync } from 'fs';
+import { Cron } from 'croner';
 
 // ── Config & Types ──
 import type { Config } from '../config/index.js';
@@ -106,7 +107,8 @@ export async function startDaemon(config: Config, options?: StartDaemonOptions):
 
   if (config.backup.enabled) {
     const backupIntervalMs = parseDuration(config.backup.interval);
-    if (!backupIntervalMs) {
+    const backupSchedule = config.backup.schedule?.trim();
+    if (!backupSchedule && !backupIntervalMs) {
       console.warn(`Backup enabled but interval is invalid: ${config.backup.interval}`);
     } else {
       let backupRunning = false;
@@ -129,11 +131,44 @@ export async function startDaemon(config: Config, options?: StartDaemonOptions):
         }
       };
 
-      const backupInterval = setInterval(() => {
-        void runScheduledBackup();
-      }, backupIntervalMs);
-      lifecycle.onShutdown(async () => { clearInterval(backupInterval); });
-      console.log(`Backup scheduler enabled (${config.backup.interval})`);
+      let backupCron: Cron | undefined;
+      let backupInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
+
+      if (backupSchedule) {
+        try {
+          backupCron = new Cron(backupSchedule, { paused: false }, () => {
+            void runScheduledBackup();
+          });
+          console.log(`Backup scheduler enabled (cron: ${backupSchedule})`);
+        } catch (error) {
+          const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+          console.warn(`Backup cron schedule is invalid (${backupSchedule}): ${message}`);
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!backupCron && backupIntervalMs) {
+        backupInterval = setInterval(() => {
+          void runScheduledBackup();
+        }, backupIntervalMs);
+        console.log(`Backup scheduler enabled (interval: ${config.backup.interval})`);
+      }
+
+      if (!backupCron && !backupInterval) {
+        console.warn('Backup scheduler disabled: no valid backup.schedule or backup.interval');
+      } else {
+        if (config.backup.run_on_start) {
+          void runScheduledBackup();
+        }
+
+        lifecycle.onShutdown(async () => {
+          if (backupCron) {
+            backupCron.stop();
+          }
+          if (backupInterval) {
+            clearInterval(backupInterval);
+          }
+        });
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts b/src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts
index a8067c2..ebcbdd5 100644
--- a/src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/handlers/services.test.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ describe('discoverServices', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'feishu', status: 'not_configured' }),
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'zalo', status: 'not_configured' }),
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'cron', status: 'not_configured' }),
+      expect.objectContaining({ name: 'daily_briefing', status: 'not_configured' }),
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'mcp', status: 'not_configured' }),
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'web_search', status: 'configured' }),
       expect.objectContaining({ name: 'audio_transcription', status: 'not_configured' }),
@@ -99,13 +100,18 @@ describe('discoverServices', () => {
     cfg.automation.cron = [
       { name: 'job', schedule: '0 0 * * *', message: 'hi', output: { channel: 'webchat', peer: 'x' }, enabled: true },
     ] as CronJobConfig[];
+    (cfg.automation as Record<string, unknown>).daily_briefing = {
+      enabled: true,
+      output: { channel: 'webchat', peer: 'x' },
+    };
     cfg.mcp.servers = [{ name: 'srv', command: 'x', args: [] }];
 
     const reg = new ChannelRegistry();
     const services = discoverServices(cfg, reg);
 
     expect(services.find(s => s.name === 'cron')?.status).toBe('configured');
-    expect(services.find(s => s.name === 'cron')?.itemCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(services.find(s => s.name === 'cron')?.itemCount).toBe(2);
+    expect(services.find(s => s.name === 'daily_briefing')?.status).toBe('configured');
     expect(services.find(s => s.name === 'mcp')?.metadata).toEqual({ serverCount: 1 });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/gateway/handlers/services.ts b/src/gateway/handlers/services.ts
index 5ae37bc..93ae997 100644
--- a/src/gateway/handlers/services.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/handlers/services.ts
@@ -122,9 +122,11 @@ export function discoverServices(
   });
 
   const automation = config.automation;
+  const dailyBriefingEnabled = Boolean(automation.daily_briefing?.enabled && automation.daily_briefing.output);
+  const totalCronJobs = automation.cron.length + (dailyBriefingEnabled ? 1 : 0);
 
   const automationConfigs: Array<{ enabled: boolean; name: string; description: string; itemCount?: number }> = [
-    { enabled: automation.cron.length > 0, name: 'cron', description: 'Cron scheduler', itemCount: automation.cron.length },
+    { enabled: totalCronJobs > 0, name: 'cron', description: 'Cron scheduler', itemCount: totalCronJobs },
     { enabled: automation.webhooks.length > 0, name: 'webhooks', description: 'Webhook handler', itemCount: automation.webhooks.length },
     { enabled: automation.gmail?.enabled ?? false, name: 'gmail', description: 'Gmail watcher' },
     { enabled: automation.heartbeat?.enabled ?? false, name: 'heartbeat', description: 'Heartbeat monitor' },
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ export function discoverServices(
     { enabled: automation.gdocs?.enabled ?? false, name: 'gdocs', description: 'Google Docs' },
     { enabled: automation.gdrive?.enabled ?? false, name: 'gdrive', description: 'Google Drive' },
     { enabled: automation.gtasks?.enabled ?? false, name: 'gtasks', description: 'Google Tasks' },
+    { enabled: automation.daily_briefing?.enabled ?? false, name: 'daily_briefing', description: 'Daily briefing automation' },
   ];
 
   for (const auto of automationConfigs) {