diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
index 95b5d248e1cb..fa11055a422c 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
@@ -262,6 +262,12 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 			default: 'inline',
 			tags: ['experimental', 'onExp'],
 		},
+		'chat.emptyChatState.enabled': {
+			type: 'boolean',
+			default: true,
+			description: nls.localize('chat.emptyChatState', "Shows a modified empty chat state with hints in the input placeholder text."),
+			tags: ['experimental', 'onExp'],
+		},
 		[mcpEnabledSection]: {
 			type: 'boolean',
 			description: nls.localize('chat.mcp.enabled', "Enables integration with Model Context Protocol servers to provide additional tools and functionality."),
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chatWidget.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chatWidget.ts
index dee436564927..b49bc87252dd 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chatWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chatWidget.ts
@@ -751,12 +751,16 @@ export class ChatWidget extends Disposable implements IChatWidget {
 			const configuration = this.configurationService.inspect('workbench.secondarySideBar.defaultVisibility');
 			const expIsActive = configuration.defaultValue !== 'hidden';
 
+			const expEmptyState = this.configurationService.getValue<boolean>('chat.emptyChatState.enabled');
+
 			const chatSetupTriggerContext = ContextKeyExpr.or(
 				ChatContextKeys.Setup.installed.negate(),
 				ChatContextKeys.Entitlement.canSignUp
 			);
 
 			let welcomeContent: IChatViewWelcomeContent;
+			const defaultAgent = this.chatAgentService.getDefaultAgent(this.location, this.input.currentModeKind);
+			const additionalMessage = defaultAgent?.metadata.additionalWelcomeMessage;
 			if ((startupExpValue === StartupExperimentGroup.MaximizedChat
 				|| startupExpValue === StartupExperimentGroup.SplitEmptyEditorChat
 				|| startupExpValue === StartupExperimentGroup.SplitWelcomeChat
@@ -764,9 +768,10 @@ export class ChatWidget extends Disposable implements IChatWidget {
 				welcomeContent = this.getExpWelcomeViewContent();
 				this.container.classList.add('experimental-welcome-view');
 			}
+			else if (expEmptyState) {
+				welcomeContent = this.getWelcomeViewContent(additionalMessage, expEmptyState);
+			}
 			else {
-				const defaultAgent = this.chatAgentService.getDefaultAgent(this.location, this.input.currentModeKind);
-				const additionalMessage = defaultAgent?.metadata.additionalWelcomeMessage;
 				const tips = this.input.currentModeKind === ChatModeKind.Ask
 					? new MarkdownString(localize('chatWidget.tips', "{0} or type {1} to attach context\n\n{2} to chat with extensions\n\nType {3} to use commands", '$(attach)', '#', '$(mention)', '/'), { supportThemeIcons: true })
 					: new MarkdownString(localize('chatWidget.tips.withoutParticipants', "{0} or type {1} to attach context", '$(attach)', '#'), { supportThemeIcons: true });
@@ -790,27 +795,37 @@ export class ChatWidget extends Disposable implements IChatWidget {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private getWelcomeViewContent(additionalMessage: string | IMarkdownString | undefined): IChatViewWelcomeContent {
-		const baseMessage = localize('chatMessage', "Copilot is powered by AI, so mistakes are possible. Review output carefully before use.");
+	private getWelcomeViewContent(additionalMessage: string | IMarkdownString | undefined, expEmptyState?: boolean): IChatViewWelcomeContent {
+		const disclaimerMessage = expEmptyState
+			? localize('chatDisclaimer', "AI responses may be inaccurate.")
+			: localize('chatMessage', "Copilot is powered by AI, so mistakes are possible. Review output carefully before use.");
+		const icon = expEmptyState ? Codicon.chatSparkle : Codicon.copilotLarge;
+
 		if (this.input.currentModeKind === ChatModeKind.Ask) {
 			return {
-				title: localize('chatDescription', "Ask Copilot"),
-				message: new MarkdownString(baseMessage),
-				icon: Codicon.copilotLarge,
+				title: localize('chatDescription', "Ask about your code."),
+				message: new MarkdownString(disclaimerMessage),
+				icon,
 				additionalMessage,
 			};
 		} else if (this.input.currentModeKind === ChatModeKind.Edit) {
+			const editsHelpMessage = localize('editsHelp', "Start your editing session by defining a set of files that you want to work with. Then ask Copilot for the changes you want to make.");
+			const message = expEmptyState ? disclaimerMessage : `${editsHelpMessage}\n\n${disclaimerMessage}`;
+
 			return {
-				title: localize('editsTitle', "Edit with Copilot"),
-				message: new MarkdownString(localize('editsMessage', "Start your editing session by defining a set of files that you want to work with. Then ask Copilot for the changes you want to make.") + `\n\n${baseMessage}`),
-				icon: Codicon.copilotLarge,
+				title: localize('editsTitle', "Edit in context."),
+				message: new MarkdownString(message),
+				icon,
 				additionalMessage
 			};
 		} else {
+			const agentHelpMessage = localize('agentMessage', "Ask Copilot to edit your files in [agent mode]({0}). Copilot will automatically use multiple requests to pick files to edit, run terminal commands, and iterate on errors.", 'https://aka.ms/vscode-copilot-agent');
+			const message = expEmptyState ? disclaimerMessage : `${agentHelpMessage}\n\n${disclaimerMessage}`;
+
 			return {
-				title: localize('editsTitle', "Edit with Copilot"),
-				message: new MarkdownString(localize('agentMessage', "Ask Copilot to edit your files in [agent mode]({0}). Copilot will automatically use multiple requests to pick files to edit, run terminal commands, and iterate on errors.", 'https://aka.ms/vscode-copilot-agent') + `\n\n${baseMessage}`),
-				icon: Codicon.copilotLarge,
+				title: localize('agentTitle', "Build with agent mode."),
+				message: new MarkdownString(message),
+				icon,
 				additionalMessage
 			};
 		}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/contrib/chatInputEditorContrib.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/contrib/chatInputEditorContrib.ts
index cf529794f3a3..f61e7d6b3e90 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/contrib/chatInputEditorContrib.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/contrib/chatInputEditorContrib.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import { ICodeEditorService } from '../../../../../editor/browser/services/codeE
 import { Range } from '../../../../../editor/common/core/range.js';
 import { IDecorationOptions } from '../../../../../editor/common/editorCommon.js';
 import { TrackedRangeStickiness } from '../../../../../editor/common/model.js';
+import { localize } from '../../../../../nls.js';
+import { IConfigurationService } from '../../../../../platform/configuration/common/configuration.js';
 import { IInstantiationService } from '../../../../../platform/instantiation/common/instantiation.js';
 import { inputPlaceholderForeground } from '../../../../../platform/theme/common/colorRegistry.js';
 import { IThemeService } from '../../../../../platform/theme/common/themeService.js';
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ import { IChatAgentCommand, IChatAgentData, IChatAgentService } from '../../comm
 import { chatSlashCommandBackground, chatSlashCommandForeground } from '../../common/chatColors.js';
 import { ChatRequestAgentPart, ChatRequestAgentSubcommandPart, ChatRequestSlashCommandPart, ChatRequestSlashPromptPart, ChatRequestTextPart, ChatRequestToolPart, ChatRequestToolSetPart, IParsedChatRequestPart, chatAgentLeader, chatSubcommandLeader } from '../../common/chatParserTypes.js';
 import { ChatRequestParser } from '../../common/chatRequestParser.js';
+import { ChatModeKind } from '../../common/constants.js';
 import { IChatWidget } from '../chat.js';
 import { ChatWidget } from '../chatWidget.js';
 import { dynamicVariableDecorationType } from './chatDynamicVariables.js';
@@ -44,6 +47,7 @@ class InputEditorDecorations extends Disposable {
 		@ICodeEditorService private readonly codeEditorService: ICodeEditorService,
 		@IThemeService private readonly themeService: IThemeService,
 		@IChatAgentService private readonly chatAgentService: IChatAgentService,
+		@IConfigurationService private readonly configurationService: IConfigurationService
 	) {
 		super();
 
@@ -126,7 +130,16 @@ class InputEditorDecorations extends Disposable {
 		}
 
 		if (!inputValue) {
-			const description = this.widget.input.currentModeObs.get().description.get();
+			const mode = this.widget.input.currentModeObs.get();
+			let description = mode.description.get();
+			if (this.configurationService.getValue<boolean>('chat.emptyChatState.enabled')) {
+				if (mode.kind === ChatModeKind.Ask) {
+					description += ` ${localize('askPlaceholderHint', "# context, @ extensions, / commands")}`;
+				} else if (mode.kind === ChatModeKind.Edit || mode.kind === ChatModeKind.Agent) {
+					description += ` ${localize('editPlaceholderHint', "# context")}`;
+				}
+			}
+
 			const decoration: IDecorationOptions[] = [
 				{
 					range: {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/media/chatViewWelcome.css b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/media/chatViewWelcome.css
index d6d06e188c0f..6523d2807b4d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/media/chatViewWelcome.css
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/media/chatViewWelcome.css
@@ -80,6 +80,22 @@ div.chat-welcome-view {
 		}
 	}
 
+	& > .chat-welcome-view-message.experimental-empty-state {
+		position: relative;
+		text-align: center;
+		max-width: 100%;
+		margin: 0 auto;
+		color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground);
+
+		a {
+			color: var(--vscode-textLink-foreground);
+		}
+		p{
+			margin-top: 8px;
+			margin-bottom: 8px;
+		}
+	}
+
 	.monaco-button {
 		display: inline-block;
 		width: initial;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/viewsWelcome/chatViewWelcomeController.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/viewsWelcome/chatViewWelcomeController.ts
index 603baeeb982b..46d8ccadeeac 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/viewsWelcome/chatViewWelcomeController.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/viewsWelcome/chatViewWelcomeController.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { ITelemetryService } from '../../../../../platform/telemetry/common/tele
 import { defaultButtonStyles } from '../../../../../platform/theme/browser/defaultStyles.js';
 import { ChatAgentLocation } from '../../common/constants.js';
 import { IChatWidgetService } from '../chat.js';
+import { IConfigurationService } from '../../../../../platform/configuration/common/configuration.js';
 import { chatViewsWelcomeRegistry, IChatViewsWelcomeDescriptor } from './chatViewsWelcome.js';
 
 const $ = dom.$;
@@ -142,6 +143,7 @@ export class ChatViewWelcomePart extends Disposable {
 		@ILogService private logService: ILogService,
 		@IChatWidgetService private chatWidgetService: IChatWidgetService,
 		@ITelemetryService private telemetryService: ITelemetryService,
+		@IConfigurationService private configurationService: IConfigurationService,
 	) {
 		super();
 		this.element = dom.$('.chat-welcome-view');
@@ -160,13 +162,15 @@ export class ChatViewWelcomePart extends Disposable {
 			title.textContent = content.title;
 
 			// Preview indicator
-			if (typeof content.message !== 'function' && options?.isWidgetAgentWelcomeViewContent) {
+			const expEmptyState = this.configurationService.getValue<boolean>('chat.emptyChatState.enabled');
+			if (typeof content.message !== 'function' && options?.isWidgetAgentWelcomeViewContent && !expEmptyState) {
 				const container = dom.append(this.element, $('.chat-welcome-view-indicator-container'));
 				dom.append(container, $('.chat-welcome-view-subtitle', undefined, localize('agentModeSubtitle', "Agent Mode")));
 			}
 
 			// Message
 			const message = dom.append(this.element, content.isExperimental ? $('.chat-welcome-experimental-view-message') : $('.chat-welcome-view-message'));
+			message.classList.toggle('experimental-empty-state', expEmptyState);
 			if (typeof content.message === 'function') {
 				dom.append(message, content.message(this._register(new DisposableStore())));
 			} else {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/common/chatModes.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/common/chatModes.ts
index f805a65d42e6..85d0bbb9750d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/common/chatModes.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/common/chatModes.ts
@@ -333,9 +333,9 @@ export class BuiltinChatMode implements IChatMode {
 }
 
 export namespace ChatMode {
-	export const Ask = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Ask, 'Ask', localize('chatDescription', "Ask Copilot"));
-	export const Edit = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Edit, 'Edit', localize('editsDescription', "Edit files in your workspace"));
-	export const Agent = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Agent, 'Agent', localize('agentDescription', "Edit files in your workspace in agent mode"));
+	export const Ask = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Ask, 'Ask', localize('chatDescription', "Ask a question."));
+	export const Edit = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Edit, 'Edit', localize('editsDescription', "Edit files."));
+	export const Agent = new BuiltinChatMode(ChatModeKind.Agent, 'Agent', localize('agentDescription', "Build autonomously."));
 }
 
 export function isBuiltinChatMode(mode: IChatMode): boolean {