diff --git a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/README.md b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/README.md
index c7a9c69..a8ad7fe 100644
--- a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/README.md
+++ b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ Chromium** against the compiled adapter. This directory is that proof.
 
 ```bash
 pnpm build                          # compile the adapter into dist/
-node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs # boot-and-serve proof; exits non-zero on any failed check
+node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs # headless boot-and-serve proof; exits non-zero on any failed check
+
+HEADED=1 node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs # opens a real Chrome window, runs the checks,
+                                             # and renders the live app served by the WebContainer;
+                                             # stays open until Ctrl-C
 ```
 
 Requirements:
diff --git a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs
index f7a8bf6..a8b2c3e 100644
--- a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs
+++ b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs
@@ -4,19 +4,22 @@
 //
 // Prereqs: build the package (`pnpm build`) and have Google Chrome installed, or
 // a Playwright Chromium (`npx playwright install chromium`). Then:
-//   node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs
+//   node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs           # headless verification (exits 0/1)
+//   HEADED=1 node harness/webcontainer/drive.mjs  # opens a real window + live preview, stays open
 //
 // Needs network: WebContainer downloads its runtime from StackBlitz on first boot.
 import { chromium } from 'playwright-core'
 import { startServer } from './server.mjs'
 
+const headed = process.env.HEADED === '1'
+
 async function launch() {
   // Prefer a system Chrome (no browser download); fall back to a Playwright Chromium.
   try {
-    return await chromium.launch({ headless: true, channel: 'chrome' })
+    return await chromium.launch({ headless: !headed, channel: 'chrome' })
   } catch {
     try {
-      return await chromium.launch({ headless: true })
+      return await chromium.launch({ headless: !headed })
     } catch (err) {
       console.error(
         'No usable Chromium. Install Google Chrome, or run `npx playwright install chromium`.\n' + err,
@@ -34,18 +37,24 @@ page.on('pageerror', (e) => console.log('[pageerror]', e.message))
 
 let result
 try {
-  await page.goto(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/`, { waitUntil: 'load' })
+  await page.goto(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/${headed ? '?demo=1' : ''}`, { waitUntil: 'load' })
   await page.waitForFunction(() => window.__RESULT__ && window.__RESULT__.done, { timeout: 90000 })
   result = await page.evaluate(() => window.__RESULT__)
 } catch (e) {
   result = { done: false, ok: false, error: 'harness timeout: ' + e.message }
 }
 
-await browser.close()
-server.close()
-
 const passed = (result.checks ?? []).filter((c) => c.ok).length
 const total = (result.checks ?? []).length
 console.log(`\n${result.ok ? 'OK' : 'FAILED'} — ${passed}/${total} checks passed`)
 if (result.error) console.log('error:', result.error)
+
+if (headed) {
+  // Leave the window (and the WebContainer's live preview) open to inspect.
+  console.log('\nBrowser window is open with the live preview. Press Ctrl-C to exit.')
+  await new Promise(() => {})
+}
+
+await browser.close()
+server.close()
 process.exit(result.ok ? 0 : 1)
diff --git a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/index.html b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/index.html
index 1a96d23..3bee484 100644
--- a/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/index.html
+++ b/packages/ai-autopilot/harness/webcontainer/index.html
@@ -60,16 +60,31 @@
     const served = await s.exec("node -e \"fetch('http://localhost:3000').then(r=>r.text()).then(t=>process.stdout.write(t))\"")
     check('the started server actually serves', served.stdout.includes('hello from webcontainer'), JSON.stringify(served.stdout.trim()))
 
-    await dev.stop()
-    await s.dispose()
-    check('dispose blocks further exec', await (async () => { try { await s.exec('true'); return false } catch { return true } })())
+    // `?demo=1`: leave the server up and render the live preview, so a headed
+    // browser shows the app actually served by the WebContainer.
+    if (new URLSearchParams(location.search).has('demo')) {
+      log('demo mode: server left running; live preview below')
+      const h = document.createElement('h3')
+      h.textContent = 'Live app served by the WebContainer:'
+      const a = document.createElement('a')
+      a.href = preview.url; a.textContent = preview.url; a.target = '_blank'
+      const frame = document.createElement('iframe')
+      frame.src = preview.url
+      frame.style.cssText = 'display:block;width:100%;height:120px;border:1px solid #888;margin-top:8px'
+      document.body.append(h, a, frame)
+      window.__RESULT__ = { done: true, ok: checks.every(c => c.ok), checks, demo: true }
+    } else {
+      await dev.stop()
+      await s.dispose()
+      check('dispose blocks further exec', await (async () => { try { await s.exec('true'); return false } catch { return true } })())
 
-    // Single-instance guard: a fresh boot after dispose must succeed.
-    const s2 = await runner.boot()
-    check('boot succeeds again after dispose (single-instance slot freed)', !!s2.id)
-    await s2.dispose()
+      // Single-instance guard: a fresh boot after dispose must succeed.
+      const s2 = await runner.boot()
+      check('boot succeeds again after dispose (single-instance slot freed)', !!s2.id)
+      await s2.dispose()
 
-    window.__RESULT__ = { done: true, ok: checks.every(c => c.ok), checks }
+      window.__RESULT__ = { done: true, ok: checks.every(c => c.ok), checks }
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     log('ERROR ' + (err && err.stack || err))
     window.__RESULT__ = { done: true, ok: false, checks, error: String(err && err.message || err) }