diff --git a/cli/cliui/table.go b/cli/cliui/table.go
index 478bbe2260..c828548022 100644
--- a/cli/cliui/table.go
+++ b/cli/cliui/table.go
@@ -296,22 +296,23 @@ func renderTable(out any, sort string, headers table.Row, filterColumns []string
 // returned. If the table tag is malformed, an error is returned.
 //
 // The returned name is transformed from "snake_case" to "normal text".
-func parseTableStructTag(field reflect.StructField) (name string, defaultSort, noSortOpt, recursive, skipParentName bool, err error) {
+func parseTableStructTag(field reflect.StructField) (name string, defaultSort, noSortOpt, recursive, skipParentName, emptyNil bool, err error) {
 	tags, err := structtag.Parse(string(field.Tag))
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", false, false, false, false, xerrors.Errorf("parse struct field tag %q: %w", string(field.Tag), err)
+		return "", false, false, false, false, false, xerrors.Errorf("parse struct field tag %q: %w", string(field.Tag), err)
 	}
 
 	tag, err := tags.Get("table")
 	if err != nil || tag.Name == "-" {
 		// tags.Get only returns an error if the tag is not found.
-		return "", false, false, false, false, nil
+		return "", false, false, false, false, false, nil
 	}
 
 	defaultSortOpt := false
 	noSortOpt = false
 	recursiveOpt := false
 	skipParentNameOpt := false
+	emptyNilOpt := false
 	for _, opt := range tag.Options {
 		switch opt {
 		case "default_sort":
@@ -326,12 +327,14 @@ func parseTableStructTag(field reflect.StructField) (name string, defaultSort, n
 			// make sure the child name is unique across all nested structs in the parent.
 			recursiveOpt = true
 			skipParentNameOpt = true
+		case "empty_nil":
+			emptyNilOpt = true
 		default:
-			return "", false, false, false, false, xerrors.Errorf("unknown option %q in struct field tag", opt)
+			return "", false, false, false, false, false, xerrors.Errorf("unknown option %q in struct field tag", opt)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return strings.ReplaceAll(tag.Name, "_", " "), defaultSortOpt, noSortOpt, recursiveOpt, skipParentNameOpt, nil
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(tag.Name, "_", " "), defaultSortOpt, noSortOpt, recursiveOpt, skipParentNameOpt, emptyNilOpt, nil
 }
 
 func isStructOrStructPointer(t reflect.Type) bool {
@@ -358,7 +361,7 @@ func typeToTableHeaders(t reflect.Type, requireDefault bool) ([]string, string,
 	noSortOpt := false
 	for i := 0; i < t.NumField(); i++ {
 		field := t.Field(i)
-		name, defaultSort, noSort, recursive, skip, err := parseTableStructTag(field)
+		name, defaultSort, noSort, recursive, skip, _, err := parseTableStructTag(field)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, "", xerrors.Errorf("parse struct tags for field %q in type %q: %w", field.Name, t.String(), err)
 		}
@@ -435,7 +438,7 @@ func valueToTableMap(val reflect.Value) (map[string]any, error) {
 	for i := 0; i < val.NumField(); i++ {
 		field := val.Type().Field(i)
 		fieldVal := val.Field(i)
-		name, _, _, recursive, skip, err := parseTableStructTag(field)
+		name, _, _, recursive, skip, emptyNil, err := parseTableStructTag(field)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, xerrors.Errorf("parse struct tags for field %q in type %T: %w", field.Name, val, err)
 		}
@@ -443,8 +446,14 @@ func valueToTableMap(val reflect.Value) (map[string]any, error) {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		// Recurse if it's a struct.
 		fieldType := field.Type
+
+		// If empty_nil is set and this is a nil pointer, use a zero value.
+		if emptyNil && fieldVal.Kind() == reflect.Pointer && fieldVal.IsNil() {
+			fieldVal = reflect.New(fieldType.Elem())
+		}
+
+		// Recurse if it's a struct.
 		if recursive {
 			if !isStructOrStructPointer(fieldType) {
 				return nil, xerrors.Errorf("field %q in type %q is marked as recursive but does not contain a struct or a pointer to a struct", field.Name, fieldType.String())
@@ -467,7 +476,7 @@ func valueToTableMap(val reflect.Value) (map[string]any, error) {
 		}
 
 		// Otherwise, we just use the field value.
-		row[name] = val.Field(i).Interface()
+		row[name] = fieldVal.Interface()
 	}
 
 	return row, nil
diff --git a/cli/cliui/table_test.go b/cli/cliui/table_test.go
index 4e82707f3f..424b9c9a7d 100644
--- a/cli/cliui/table_test.go
+++ b/cli/cliui/table_test.go
@@ -400,6 +400,78 @@ foo   <nil>      10  [a, b, c]  foo1               11  foo2        12         fo
 			})
 		})
 	})
+
+	t.Run("EmptyNil", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		type emptyNilTest struct {
+			Name           string  `table:"name,default_sort"`
+			EmptyOnNil     *string `table:"empty_on_nil,empty_nil"`
+			NormalBehavior *string `table:"normal_behavior"`
+		}
+
+		value := "value"
+		in := []emptyNilTest{
+			{
+				Name:           "has_value",
+				EmptyOnNil:     &value,
+				NormalBehavior: &value,
+			},
+			{
+				Name:           "has_nil",
+				EmptyOnNil:     nil,
+				NormalBehavior: nil,
+			},
+		}
+
+		expected := `
+NAME       EMPTY ON NIL  NORMAL BEHAVIOR
+has_nil                  <nil>
+has_value  value         value
+		`
+
+		out, err := cliui.DisplayTable(in, "", nil)
+		log.Println("rendered table:\n" + out)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		compareTables(t, expected, out)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("EmptyNilWithRecursiveInline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		type nestedData struct {
+			Name string `table:"name"`
+		}
+
+		type inlineTest struct {
+			Nested *nestedData `table:"ignored,recursive_inline,empty_nil"`
+			Count  int         `table:"count,default_sort"`
+		}
+
+		in := []inlineTest{
+			{
+				Nested: &nestedData{
+					Name: "alice",
+				},
+				Count: 1,
+			},
+			{
+				Nested: nil,
+				Count:  2,
+			},
+		}
+
+		expected := `
+NAME   COUNT
+alice  1
+       2
+		`
+
+		out, err := cliui.DisplayTable(in, "", nil)
+		log.Println("rendered table:\n" + out)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		compareTables(t, expected, out)
+	})
 }
 
 // compareTables normalizes the incoming table lines
diff --git a/cli/exp_task_list_test.go b/cli/exp_task_list_test.go
index d1e0862dc7..d297310dc4 100644
--- a/cli/exp_task_list_test.go
+++ b/cli/exp_task_list_test.go
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func TestExpTaskList(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Validate the table includes the task and status.
 		pty.ExpectMatch(task.Name)
-		pty.ExpectMatch("running")
+		pty.ExpectMatch("initializing")
 		pty.ExpectMatch(wantPrompt)
 	})
 
@@ -175,9 +175,9 @@ func TestExpTaskList(t *testing.T) {
 		owner := coderdtest.CreateFirstUser(t, client)
 		memberClient, memberUser := coderdtest.CreateAnotherUser(t, client, owner.OrganizationID)
 
-		// Create two AI tasks: one running, one stopped.
-		runningTask := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStart, "keep me running")
-		stoppedTask := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStop, "stop me please")
+		// Create two AI tasks: one initializing, one paused.
+		initializingTask := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStart, "keep me initializing")
+		pausedTask := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStop, "stop me please")
 
 		// Use JSON output to reliably validate filtering.
 		inv, root := clitest.New(t, "exp", "task", "list", "--status=paused", "--output=json")
@@ -194,10 +194,10 @@ func TestExpTaskList(t *testing.T) {
 		var tasks []codersdk.Task
 		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(stdout.Bytes(), &tasks))
 
-		// Only the stopped task is returned.
+		// Only the paused task is returned.
 		require.Len(t, tasks, 1, "expected one task after filtering")
-		require.Equal(t, stoppedTask.ID, tasks[0].ID)
-		require.NotEqual(t, runningTask.ID, tasks[0].ID)
+		require.Equal(t, pausedTask.ID, tasks[0].ID)
+		require.NotEqual(t, initializingTask.ID, tasks[0].ID)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("UserFlag_Me_Table", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func TestExpTaskList(t *testing.T) {
 		memberClient, memberUser := coderdtest.CreateAnotherUser(t, client, owner.OrganizationID)
 
 		// Given: We have two tasks
-		task1 := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStart, "keep me running")
+		task1 := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStart, "keep me active")
 		task2 := makeAITask(t, db, owner.OrganizationID, owner.UserID, memberUser.ID, database.WorkspaceTransitionStop, "stop me please")
 
 		// Given: We add the `--quiet` flag
diff --git a/cli/exp_task_status.go b/cli/exp_task_status.go
index f34812657a..1bd77f5f7f 100644
--- a/cli/exp_task_status.go
+++ b/cli/exp_task_status.go
@@ -156,28 +156,21 @@ func taskWatchIsEnded(task codersdk.Task) bool {
 }
 
 type taskStatusRow struct {
-	codersdk.Task `table:"-"`
-	ChangedAgo    string    `json:"-" table:"state changed,default_sort"`
-	Timestamp     time.Time `json:"-" table:"-"`
-	TaskStatus    string    `json:"-" table:"status"`
-	Healthy       bool      `json:"-" table:"healthy"`
-	TaskState     string    `json:"-" table:"state"`
-	Message       string    `json:"-" table:"message"`
+	codersdk.Task `table:"r,recursive_inline"`
+	ChangedAgo    string `json:"-" table:"state changed"`
+	Healthy       bool   `json:"-" table:"healthy"`
 }
 
 func taskStatusRowEqual(r1, r2 taskStatusRow) bool {
-	return r1.TaskStatus == r2.TaskStatus &&
+	return r1.Status == r2.Status &&
 		r1.Healthy == r2.Healthy &&
-		r1.TaskState == r2.TaskState &&
-		r1.Message == r2.Message
+		taskStateEqual(r1.CurrentState, r2.CurrentState)
 }
 
 func toStatusRow(task codersdk.Task) taskStatusRow {
 	tsr := taskStatusRow{
 		Task:       task,
 		ChangedAgo: time.Since(task.UpdatedAt).Truncate(time.Second).String() + " ago",
-		Timestamp:  task.UpdatedAt,
-		TaskStatus: string(task.WorkspaceStatus),
 	}
 	tsr.Healthy = task.WorkspaceAgentHealth != nil &&
 		task.WorkspaceAgentHealth.Healthy &&
@@ -187,9 +180,19 @@ func toStatusRow(task codersdk.Task) taskStatusRow {
 
 	if task.CurrentState != nil {
 		tsr.ChangedAgo = time.Since(task.CurrentState.Timestamp).Truncate(time.Second).String() + " ago"
-		tsr.Timestamp = task.CurrentState.Timestamp
-		tsr.TaskState = string(task.CurrentState.State)
-		tsr.Message = task.CurrentState.Message
 	}
 	return tsr
 }
+
+func taskStateEqual(se1, se2 *codersdk.TaskStateEntry) bool {
+	var s1, m1, s2, m2 string
+	if se1 != nil {
+		s1 = string(se1.State)
+		m1 = se1.Message
+	}
+	if se2 != nil {
+		s2 = string(se2.State)
+		m2 = se2.Message
+	}
+	return s1 == s2 && m1 == m2
+}
diff --git a/cli/exp_task_status_test.go b/cli/exp_task_status_test.go
index 01b2a8379d..ae6f1db29d 100644
--- a/cli/exp_task_status_test.go
+++ b/cli/exp_task_status_test.go
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ func Test_TaskStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			args: []string{"exists"},
-			expectOutput: `STATE CHANGED  STATUS   HEALTHY  STATE    MESSAGE
-0s ago         running  true     working  Thinking furiously...`,
+			expectOutput: `STATE CHANGED  STATUS  HEALTHY  STATE    MESSAGE
+0s ago         active  true     working  Thinking furiously...`,
 			hf: func(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 				return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 					switch r.URL.Path {
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ func Test_TaskStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			args: []string{"exists", "--watch"},
-			expectOutput: `
-STATE CHANGED  STATUS   HEALTHY  STATE  MESSAGE
+			expectOutput: `STATE CHANGED  STATUS   HEALTHY  STATE  MESSAGE
 5s ago         pending  true
-4s ago         running  true
-3s ago         running  true     working  Reticulating splines...
-2s ago         running  true     complete  Splines reticulated successfully!`,
+4s ago         initializing  true
+4s ago         active  true
+3s ago         active  true     working  Reticulating splines...
+2s ago         active  true     complete  Splines reticulated successfully!`,
 			hf: func(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) func(http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request) {
 				var calls atomic.Int64
 				return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
diff --git a/cli/exp_task_test.go b/cli/exp_task_test.go
index 82457ec748..d2d3728aeb 100644
--- a/cli/exp_task_test.go
+++ b/cli/exp_task_test.go
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ func Test_Tasks(t *testing.T) {
 				var task codersdk.Task
 				require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(stdout)).Decode(&task), "should unmarshal task status")
 				require.Equal(t, task.Name, taskName, "task name should match")
-				// NOTE: task status changes type, this is so this test works with both old and new model
-				require.Contains(t, []string{"active", "running"}, string(task.Status), "task should be active")
+				require.Equal(t, codersdk.TaskStatusActive, task.Status, "task should be active")
 			},
 		},
 		{
diff --git a/codersdk/aitasks.go b/codersdk/aitasks.go
index 318caa3d17..bf55cd6eda 100644
--- a/codersdk/aitasks.go
+++ b/codersdk/aitasks.go
@@ -163,15 +163,15 @@ type Task struct {
 	TemplateDisplayName     string                   `json:"template_display_name" table:"template display name"`
 	TemplateIcon            string                   `json:"template_icon" table:"template icon"`
 	WorkspaceID             uuid.NullUUID            `json:"workspace_id" format:"uuid" table:"workspace id"`
-	WorkspaceStatus         WorkspaceStatus          `json:"workspace_status,omitempty" enums:"pending,starting,running,stopping,stopped,failed,canceling,canceled,deleting,deleted" table:"status"`
+	WorkspaceStatus         WorkspaceStatus          `json:"workspace_status,omitempty" enums:"pending,starting,running,stopping,stopped,failed,canceling,canceled,deleting,deleted" table:"workspace status"`
 	WorkspaceBuildNumber    int32                    `json:"workspace_build_number,omitempty" table:"workspace build number"`
 	WorkspaceAgentID        uuid.NullUUID            `json:"workspace_agent_id" format:"uuid" table:"workspace agent id"`
 	WorkspaceAgentLifecycle *WorkspaceAgentLifecycle `json:"workspace_agent_lifecycle" table:"workspace agent lifecycle"`
 	WorkspaceAgentHealth    *WorkspaceAgentHealth    `json:"workspace_agent_health" table:"workspace agent health"`
 	WorkspaceAppID          uuid.NullUUID            `json:"workspace_app_id" format:"uuid" table:"workspace app id"`
 	InitialPrompt           string                   `json:"initial_prompt" table:"initial prompt"`
-	Status                  TaskStatus               `json:"status" enums:"pending,initializing,active,paused,unknown,error" table:"task status"`
-	CurrentState            *TaskStateEntry          `json:"current_state" table:"cs,recursive_inline"`
+	Status                  TaskStatus               `json:"status" enums:"pending,initializing,active,paused,unknown,error" table:"status"`
+	CurrentState            *TaskStateEntry          `json:"current_state" table:"cs,recursive_inline,empty_nil"`
 	CreatedAt               time.Time                `json:"created_at" format:"date-time" table:"created at"`
 	UpdatedAt               time.Time                `json:"updated_at" format:"date-time" table:"updated at"`
 }