diff --git a/src/components/search/IntelligentAutoComplete.tsx b/src/components/search/IntelligentAutoComplete.tsx
index f5cb6463..7cdbcfd5 100644
--- a/src/components/search/IntelligentAutoComplete.tsx
+++ b/src/components/search/IntelligentAutoComplete.tsx
@@ -3,20 +3,25 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef, useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Search, X, Clock, ChevronRight, Sparkles, User, Tag, Type } from 'lucide-react';
 import { getSearchSuggestions, highlightMatch } from '../../utils/searchUtils';
+import { useDebounce } from '../../hooks/useDebounce';
 
 interface IntelligentAutoCompleteProps {
   value: string;
   onChange: (value: string) => void;
   onSearch: (value: string) => void;
   history?: string[];
+  debounceMs?: number;
 }
 
 export const IntelligentAutoComplete = React.memo<IntelligentAutoCompleteProps>(
-  ({ value, onChange, onSearch, history = [] }) => {
+  ({ value, onChange, onSearch, history = [], debounceMs = 300 }) => {
     const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
     const [activeIndex, setActiveIndex] = useState(-1);
     const dropdownRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
     const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
+    const debouncedValue = useDebounce(value, debounceMs);
+    const suggestions = useMemo(() => getSearchSuggestions(debouncedValue), [debouncedValue]);
     const suggestions = useMemo(() => getSearchSuggestions(value), [value]);
 
     useEffect(() => {
@@ -154,11 +159,11 @@ export const IntelligentAutoComplete = React.memo<IntelligentAutoCompleteProps>(
                         {getSuggestionIcon(suggestion)}
                       </div>
                       <span className="flex-1 truncate">
-                        {highlightMatch(suggestion, value).map((part, index) => (
+                        {highlightMatch(suggestion, debouncedValue).map((part, index) => (
                           <span
                             key={index}
                             className={
-                              part.toLowerCase() === value.toLowerCase()
+                              part.toLowerCase() === debouncedValue.toLowerCase()
                                 ? 'font-bold text-primary'
                                 : ''
                             }
diff --git a/src/components/search/__tests__/IntelligentAutoComplete.test.tsx b/src/components/search/__tests__/IntelligentAutoComplete.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76c9af11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/search/__tests__/IntelligentAutoComplete.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, act } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { IntelligentAutoComplete } from '../IntelligentAutoComplete';
+import * as searchUtils from '../../../utils/searchUtils';
+
+describe('IntelligentAutoComplete Component - Debounce', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('renders input with given initial value', () => {
+    const onChange = vi.fn();
+    const onSearch = vi.fn();
+
+    render(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="react" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} />);
+
+    const input = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Search for knowledge, authors, or topics...');
+    expect(input).toHaveValue('react');
+  });
+
+  it('debounces calls to getSearchSuggestions when typing', () => {
+    const getSearchSuggestionsSpy = vi.spyOn(searchUtils, 'getSearchSuggestions');
+    const onChange = vi.fn();
+    const onSearch = vi.fn();
+
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <IntelligentAutoComplete value="" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />,
+    );
+
+    const initialCalls = getSearchSuggestionsSpy.mock.calls.length;
+
+    // Simulate typing multiple characters sequentially
+    rerender(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="c" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />);
+    rerender(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="ca" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />);
+    rerender(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="cai" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />);
+    rerender(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="cair" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />);
+    rerender(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="cairo" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} debounceMs={300} />);
+
+    // Before timer advances, getSearchSuggestions should not have been called for intermediate keystrokes
+    expect(getSearchSuggestionsSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(initialCalls);
+
+    // Advance time by 300ms
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+
+    // Now getSearchSuggestions should be called once with the final debounced value
+    expect(getSearchSuggestionsSpy.mock.calls.length).toBe(initialCalls + 1);
+    expect(getSearchSuggestionsSpy).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('cairo');
+  });
+
+  it('triggers onSearch when Enter is pressed without active dropdown selection', () => {
+    const onChange = vi.fn();
+    const onSearch = vi.fn();
+
+    render(<IntelligentAutoComplete value="starknet" onChange={onChange} onSearch={onSearch} />);
+
+    const input = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Search for knowledge, authors, or topics...');
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: 'Enter' });
+
+    expect(onSearch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('starknet');
+  });
+});