diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ebf38eb..62326e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ The chart produces **one `config.yml`** (rendered into a ConfigMap and mounted a
 
 ### Sizing
 
-Defaults are minimal for dev / smoke testing. For production, scale per-component:
+Defaults are minimal for dev / smoke testing. For production, scale per-component. On GKE, use [`examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml`](examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml) for a 128-thread import/eval pool (4 pods × 32 threads, HPA to 8 pods / 256 threads):
 
 ```yaml
 efficientai:
@@ -115,17 +115,17 @@ efficientai:
       minAvailable: 2
 
   worker:
-    replicaCount: 2
+    replicaCount: 1
+    queues: celery,audio-metrics
+    concurrency: 8
     resources:
       limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "8Gi" }
-      requests: { cpu: "1", memory: "4Gi" }
+      requests: { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
 
   workerImports:
-    replicaCount: 1
-    concurrency: 8
-    resources:
-      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
-      requests: { cpu: "500m", memory: "2Gi" }
+    replicaCount: 4
+    pool: threads
+    concurrency: 32
 
 postgresql:
   primary:
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ Every example in `examples/` is a values overlay or manifest. See [`examples/REA
 | `external-redis.yaml` | External standalone Redis and external Redis Cluster (e.g. AWS ElastiCache config endpoint) |
 | `external-s3.yaml` | External S3 bucket with credentials sourced via `secretKeyRef` |
 | `gke/values-gcs.yaml` | GKE + GCS via Workload Identity, observability config, GCE Ingress |
+| `gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml` | GKE overlay: 4–8 worker-imports pods × 32 threads (128–256 Celery threads) |
 | `ingress-alb.yaml` | AWS Load Balancer Controller with redirect action and custom per-host backend |
 | `sso-oidc.yaml` | External OIDC SSO (Okta-style) wired through `efficientai.web.additionalEnv` |
 | `topology-spread.yaml` | Zone- and host-aware spread constraints for `web`, `worker`, and `workerImports` |
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/README.md b/charts/efficientai/README.md
index 5a73c6b..6e0ad8f 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/README.md
+++ b/charts/efficientai/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This chart deploys:
 
 - **web** — the FastAPI API (also serves the built frontend) — `Deployment`, `Service`, optional `Ingress`, `HPA`, `PDB`.
 - **worker** — a Celery worker for the default queue — `Deployment` (optional `HPA`, `PDB`).
-- **worker-imports** — a dedicated Celery worker for the `imports`, `diarization`, and `evaluations` queues (concurrency 8 by default) — `Deployment`.
+- **worker-imports** — a dedicated Celery worker for the `imports`, `diarization`, and `evaluations` queues (thread pool, concurrency 32 by default) — `Deployment`.
 - **postgresql** (optional, Bitnami subchart) — toggleable via `postgresql.deploy`.
 - **redis** (optional, Bitnami subchart) — toggleable via `redis.deploy`. Cluster mode supported via external endpoints.
 
@@ -134,15 +134,28 @@ Every component exposes the same surface:
 | `efficientai.web.ingress.tls` | `[]` |
 | `efficientai.web.probes.liveness` / `probes.readiness` | HTTP `/api/v1/health` on port `8000` |
 
+#### Worker-only
+
+| Key | Default |
+|---|---|
+| `efficientai.worker.queues` | `""` (no `--queues`; drains all queues when worker-imports is disabled) |
+| `efficientai.worker.concurrency` | `0` (omit `--concurrency` unless set > 0) |
+
+When `efficientai.workerImports.enabled=true` and `efficientai.worker.command` is empty, set `efficientai.worker.queues` / `.concurrency` to split pools (docker-compose default: `celery,audio-metrics` @ `8`). When worker-imports is disabled, leave both empty so the default worker continues draining every queue.
+
 #### Worker-imports-only
 
 | Key | Default |
 |---|---|
 | `efficientai.workerImports.enabled` | `true` |
 | `efficientai.workerImports.queues` | `imports,diarization,evaluations` |
+| `efficientai.workerImports.pool` | `""` (omit `--pool`; set to `threads` for I/O-bound work) |
 | `efficientai.workerImports.concurrency` | `8` |
+| `efficientai.workerImports.spreadAcrossNodes` | `false` (release-scoped host spread when `true`) |
+
+If `efficientai.workerImports.command` is left empty, the chart builds `eai worker --config /app/config.yml --loglevel info --queues <queues> [--pool <pool>] --concurrency <n>`. Requires `efficientai-worker` **>= 1.5.0** (images with `eai worker --queues/--pool/--concurrency`). For older images, set `efficientai.workerImports.command` to invoke `celery -A app.workers.celery_app worker ...` directly.
 
-If `efficientai.workerImports.command` is left empty, the chart builds `celery -A app.workers.celery_app worker --loglevel=info --queues=<queues> --concurrency=<concurrency>` automatically. (We invoke `celery` directly rather than `eai worker --queues ... --concurrency ...` so the queue / concurrency flags work across all `efficientai-worker` image versions — older images' `eai worker` CLI doesn't expose those flags. Celery picks up the broker URL from the `CELERY_BROKER_URL` env the pod already exports.)
+For a 128-thread import/eval pool on GKE, use [examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml](../../examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml) (4 pods × 32 threads, HPA to 8 pods).
 
 ### Postgres (`postgresql.*`)
 
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/templates/NOTES.txt b/charts/efficientai/templates/NOTES.txt
index 4ec5b39..920c11c 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/templates/NOTES.txt
+++ b/charts/efficientai/templates/NOTES.txt
@@ -43,3 +43,19 @@ To reach it from your machine:
 WARNING: efficientai.secretKey is empty. Generate one and re-run helm upgrade:
   openssl rand -hex 32
 {{- end }}
+
+{{- if .Values.efficientai.workerImports.enabled }}
+{{- if ge (int .Values.efficientai.workerImports.concurrency) 16 }}
+
+Worker-imports concurrency is {{ .Values.efficientai.workerImports.concurrency }} per pod.
+Ensure Postgres/Redis connection pools are sized for replicas × concurrency.
+For the 128-thread GKE overlay, use examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml.
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
+{{- if .Values.efficientai.workerImports.enabled }}
+Default worker drains: {{ default "celery,audio-metrics" .Values.efficientai.worker.queues }} (set efficientai.worker.queues / .concurrency).
+Worker-imports drains: {{ .Values.efficientai.workerImports.queues }}.
+Requires efficientai-worker image with `eai worker --queues/--pool/--concurrency` support (>= 1.5.0).
+For older images, set efficientai.workerImports.command to invoke celery directly.
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/templates/_helpers.tpl b/charts/efficientai/templates/_helpers.tpl
index 1550378..92c110f 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/charts/efficientai/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -298,3 +298,47 @@ Common application env block (secret_key, encryption_key, license, HF token, blo
 - name: FRONTEND_DIR
   value: "/app/frontend/dist"
 {{- end -}}
+
+{{/*
+Build the default worker container command unless efficientai.worker.command is set.
+Usage: {{- include "efficientai.worker.command" . | nindent 12 }}
+*/}}
+{{- define "efficientai.worker.command" -}}
+{{- $w := .Values.efficientai.worker -}}
+{{- if gt (len $w.command) 0 -}}
+{{ toYaml $w.command }}
+{{- else -}}
+{{- $args := list "eai" "worker" "--config" "/app/config.yml" "--loglevel" "info" -}}
+{{- /* Only restrict queues when a dedicated worker-imports pool is enabled. */ -}}
+{{- if .Values.efficientai.workerImports.enabled -}}
+{{- if $w.queues -}}
+{{- $args = concat $args (list "--queues" $w.queues) -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- if $w.concurrency -}}
+{{- $args = concat $args (list "--concurrency" (printf "%d" (int $w.concurrency))) -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{ toYaml $args }}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
+
+{{/*
+Build the default worker-imports container command unless efficientai.workerImports.command is set.
+Usage: {{- include "efficientai.workerImports.command" . | nindent 12 }}
+*/}}
+{{- define "efficientai.workerImports.command" -}}
+{{- $wi := .Values.efficientai.workerImports -}}
+{{- if gt (len $wi.command) 0 -}}
+{{ toYaml $wi.command }}
+{{- else -}}
+{{- $args := list "eai" "worker" "--config" "/app/config.yml" "--loglevel" "info" -}}
+{{- $args = concat $args (list "--queues" (default "imports,diarization,evaluations" $wi.queues)) -}}
+{{- with $wi.pool -}}
+{{- if ne . "" -}}
+{{- $args = concat $args (list "--pool" .) -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- $args = concat $args (list "--concurrency" (printf "%d" (int (default 8 $wi.concurrency)))) -}}
+{{ toYaml $args }}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml b/charts/efficientai/templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
index 46d164c..7b6c03f 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/efficientai/templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
@@ -2,13 +2,20 @@
 {{- $component := "worker-imports" -}}
 {{- $name := include "efficientai.componentFullname" (dict "root" . "component" $component) -}}
 {{- $wi := .Values.efficientai.workerImports -}}
-{{- /* We invoke celery directly (rather than `eai worker`) so the --queues
-       and --concurrency flags work across all app versions. `eai worker`
-       just shells out to celery internally, and celery picks up the broker
-       URL from the CELERY_BROKER_URL env var that the pod already exports. */ -}}
-{{- $defaultCmd := list "celery" "-A" "app.workers.celery_app" "worker" "--loglevel=info" (printf "--queues=%s" (default "imports,diarization,evaluations" $wi.queues)) (printf "--concurrency=%d" (int (default 8 $wi.concurrency))) -}}
-{{- $cmd := default $defaultCmd $wi.command -}}
-{{- if eq (len $wi.command) 0 -}}{{- $cmd = $defaultCmd -}}{{- end -}}
+{{- $autoSpread := list -}}
+{{- if $wi.spreadAcrossNodes -}}
+{{- $autoSpread = list (dict
+    "maxSkew" 1
+    "topologyKey" "kubernetes.io/hostname"
+    "whenUnsatisfiable" "DoNotSchedule"
+    "labelSelector" (dict "matchLabels" (dict
+      "app.kubernetes.io/name" (include "efficientai.name" .)
+      "app.kubernetes.io/instance" .Release.Name
+      "app.kubernetes.io/component" $component
+    ))
+  ) -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- $topologySpreadConstraints := concat $autoSpread ($wi.pod.topologySpreadConstraints | default list) -}}
 apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: Deployment
 metadata:
@@ -65,9 +72,9 @@ spec:
       affinity:
         {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
       {{- end }}
-      {{- with $wi.pod.topologySpreadConstraints }}
+      {{- if gt (len $topologySpreadConstraints) 0 }}
       topologySpreadConstraints:
-        {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
+        {{- toYaml $topologySpreadConstraints | nindent 8 }}
       {{- end }}
       containers:
         - name: worker-imports
@@ -78,7 +85,7 @@ spec:
             {{- toYaml . | nindent 12 }}
           {{- end }}
           command:
-            {{- toYaml $cmd | nindent 12 }}
+            {{- include "efficientai.workerImports.command" . | nindent 12 }}
           env:
             {{- include "efficientai.postgresql.envBlock" . | nindent 12 }}
             {{- include "efficientai.redis.envBlock" . | nindent 12 }}
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/templates/worker/deployment.yaml b/charts/efficientai/templates/worker/deployment.yaml
index 323bc89..3413d09 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/templates/worker/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/efficientai/templates/worker/deployment.yaml
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ spec:
             {{- toYaml . | nindent 12 }}
           {{- end }}
           command:
-            {{- toYaml .Values.efficientai.worker.command | nindent 12 }}
+            {{- include "efficientai.worker.command" . | nindent 12 }}
           env:
             {{- include "efficientai.postgresql.envBlock" . | nindent 12 }}
             {{- include "efficientai.redis.envBlock" . | nindent 12 }}
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/tests/gcs_config_test.yaml b/charts/efficientai/tests/gcs_config_test.yaml
index 2e8a5da..d12bc1b 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/tests/gcs_config_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/efficientai/tests/gcs_config_test.yaml
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@ tests:
       gcs.prefix: audio/
     asserts:
       - matchRegex:
-          path: data.config\.yml
+          path: data["config.yml"]
           pattern: "blob_provider: gcs"
       - matchRegex:
-          path: data.config\.yml
+          path: data["config.yml"]
           pattern: "gcs:\\n\\s+bucket_name: test-audio-bucket"
       - matchRegex:
-          path: data.config\.yml
+          path: data["config.yml"]
           pattern: "project_id: test-gcp-project"
       - matchRegex:
-          path: data.config\.yml
+          path: data["config.yml"]
           pattern: "s3:\\n\\s+enabled: false"
 
   - it: wires GCS env into web pods
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_deployment_test.yaml b/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_deployment_test.yaml
index 6fee2f6..73e0663 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_deployment_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_deployment_test.yaml
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ templates:
   - templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
   - templates/configmap.yaml
 tests:
-  - it: renders the worker deployment with worker image and command
+  - it: renders the worker without queue flags when worker-imports is disabled
     template: templates/worker/deployment.yaml
     set:
       efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+      efficientai.workerImports.enabled: false
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 1
@@ -16,9 +17,32 @@ tests:
           pattern: "^ghcr.io/efficientai-tech/efficientai-worker:.+"
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: --loglevel
+          content: eai
+      - notContains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --queues
+
+  - it: renders queue flags on worker when worker-imports is enabled
+    template: templates/worker/deployment.yaml
+    set:
+      efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+      efficientai.worker.queues: celery,audio-metrics
+      efficientai.worker.concurrency: 8
+    asserts:
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --queues
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: celery,audio-metrics
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --concurrency
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: "8"
 
-  - it: renders the worker-imports deployment invoking celery with --queues/--concurrency by default
+  - it: renders the worker-imports deployment invoking eai worker by default
     template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
     set:
       efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
@@ -27,30 +51,36 @@ tests:
           count: 1
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: celery
+          content: eai
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --queues
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: app.workers.celery_app
+          content: imports,diarization,evaluations
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: --queues=imports,diarization,evaluations
+          content: --concurrency
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: --concurrency=8
+          content: "8"
+      - notContains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --pool
 
   - it: respects custom workerImports.concurrency and queues
     template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
     set:
       efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
-      efficientai.workerImports.concurrency: 8
+      efficientai.workerImports.concurrency: 16
       efficientai.workerImports.queues: "imports,heavy"
     asserts:
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: "--queues=imports,heavy"
+          content: imports,heavy
       - contains:
           path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
-          content: "--concurrency=8"
+          content: "16"
 
   - it: omits worker-imports deployment when disabled
     template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_imports_deployment_test.yaml b/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_imports_deployment_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5d0572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/efficientai/tests/worker_imports_deployment_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+suite: worker-imports deployment
+templates:
+  - templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+  - templates/configmap.yaml
+tests:
+  - it: renders eai worker with queues and default concurrency
+    template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+    set:
+      efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: eai
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: worker
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --queues
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: imports,diarization,evaluations
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --concurrency
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: "8"
+
+  - it: respects custom workerImports pool and concurrency
+    template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+    set:
+      efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+      efficientai.workerImports.pool: threads
+      efficientai.workerImports.concurrency: 32
+      efficientai.workerImports.queues: "imports,heavy"
+    asserts:
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: --pool
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: threads
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: imports,heavy
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: "32"
+
+  - it: renders release-scoped topology spread when spreadAcrossNodes is true
+    template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+    set:
+      efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+      efficientai.workerImports.spreadAcrossNodes: true
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.template.spec.topologySpreadConstraints[0].topologyKey
+          value: kubernetes.io/hostname
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.template.spec.topologySpreadConstraints[0].labelSelector.matchLabels["app.kubernetes.io/component"]
+          value: worker-imports
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.template.spec.topologySpreadConstraints[0].labelSelector.matchLabels["app.kubernetes.io/instance"]
+          value: RELEASE-NAME
+
+  - it: uses a fully custom command when workerImports.command is set
+    template: templates/worker-imports/deployment.yaml
+    set:
+      efficientai.secretKey.value: "x"
+      efficientai.workerImports.command:
+        - celery
+        - -A
+        - app.workers.celery_app
+        - worker
+        - --loglevel=info
+    asserts:
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: celery
+      - notContains:
+          path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].command
+          content: eai
diff --git a/charts/efficientai/values.yaml b/charts/efficientai/values.yaml
index 264f87b..18709e6 100644
--- a/charts/efficientai/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/efficientai/values.yaml
@@ -218,13 +218,12 @@ efficientai:
   # ===========================================================================
   worker:
     replicaCount: 1
-    command:
-      - eai
-      - worker
-      - --config
-      - /app/config.yml
-      - --loglevel
-      - info
+    # When workerImports.enabled=true, set queues/concurrency to split Celery
+    # pools (docker-compose default: celery,audio-metrics @ concurrency 8).
+    # Leave empty when workerImports is disabled so the worker drains all queues.
+    queues: ""
+    concurrency: 0
+    command: []
     resources: {}
     autoscaling:
       enabled: false
@@ -261,16 +260,8 @@ efficientai:
     replicaCount: 1
     concurrency: 8
     queues: imports,diarization,evaluations
-    # Defaults to:
-    #   celery -A app.workers.celery_app worker --loglevel=info \
-    #          --queues=<queues> --concurrency=<concurrency>
-    #
-    # We call celery directly (rather than `eai worker --queues …
-    # --concurrency …`) so the queue/concurrency flags work across
-    # all efficientai-worker image versions. Celery picks up the broker
-    # URL from the CELERY_BROKER_URL env var the pod already exports.
-    #
-    # Override here to fully customize (must be a list of argv strings).
+    # Celery pool for worker-imports (set to "threads" for I/O-bound import/eval work).
+    pool: ""
     command: []
     resources: {}
     autoscaling:
@@ -278,6 +269,9 @@ efficientai:
       minReplicas: 1
       maxReplicas: 5
       targetCPUUtilizationPercentage: 70
+    # Spread worker-imports pods across nodes for this release only (release-scoped
+    # label selector). Prefer this over hand-written topologySpreadConstraints.
+    spreadAcrossNodes: false
     deployment:
       strategy: {}
     pod:
diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
index e31b505..e626376 100644
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ helm install efficientai charts/efficientai -f examples/external-postgres.yaml
 | File | Required |
 |------|----------|
 | `gke/values-gcs.yaml` | Yes — app + GCS + Loki config |
+| `gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml` | Optional — 4–8 worker-imports pods × 32 threads |
 | `gke/managed-cert-app.yaml` | Yes — TLS for app hostname |
 | `observability/loki.yaml` | Yes — via `make observability-install` |
 | `observability/kube-prometheus-stack.yaml` | Yes — via `make observability-install` |
diff --git a/examples/gke/README.md b/examples/gke/README.md
index 03ac9c5..cf78cfd 100644
--- a/examples/gke/README.md
+++ b/examples/gke/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Full guide: [`docs/gke-gcs-observability.md`](../../docs/gke-gcs-observability.m
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
 | `values-gcs.yaml` | Helm values: GCS, Workload Identity, observability config, app Ingress |
+| `values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml` | GKE overlay: 4–8 worker-imports pods × 32 threads (128–256 Celery threads) |
 | `values-grafana-ingress.yaml` | Optional Helm overlay: Grafana host on same Ingress (instead of `ingress-grafana.yaml`) |
 | `managed-cert-app.yaml` | Google-managed TLS cert for the app hostname |
 | `grafana-proxy.yaml` | Nginx proxy + Grafana TLS cert + GCE health checks |
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@ make observability-install
 make observability-servicemonitor
 
 cp examples/gke/values-gcs.yaml my-values.yaml   # customize domains, project, bucket
+# Optional: high-concurrency worker-imports pool (128 threads steady, 256 at HPA max)
+# helm upgrade --install efficientai charts/efficientai -n efficientai \
+#   -f my-values.yaml -f examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml --wait
 helm upgrade --install efficientai charts/efficientai -n efficientai -f my-values.yaml --wait
 
 make observability-grafana-expose   # optional: public Grafana
diff --git a/examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml b/examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18fc815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml
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+# GKE overlay: high-concurrency worker-imports pool (128–256 Celery threads).
+#
+# Mirrors the EfficientAI AWS ECS / docker-compose worker split:
+#   worker         → celery,audio-metrics  (concurrency 8)
+#   worker-imports → imports,diarization,evaluations (threads pool, concurrency 32)
+#
+# Steady state: 4 pods × 32 threads = 128 concurrent import/eval workers.
+# HPA ceiling:  8 pods × 32 threads = 256 concurrent import/eval workers.
+#
+# Usage (layer on top of values-gcs.yaml):
+#   cp examples/gke/values-gcs.yaml my-gke-values.yaml
+#   # customize domains, project, bucket, secrets in my-gke-values.yaml
+#   helm upgrade --install efficientai charts/efficientai -n efficientai \
+#     -f my-gke-values.yaml \
+#     -f examples/gke/values-gke-high-concurrency.yaml \
+#     --wait
+#
+# Recommended GKE node pool for worker-imports (4–8 pods at 2 vCPU / 4 GiB each):
+#   machine type: e2-standard-8 or n2-standard-8
+#   min nodes:    4  (one worker-imports pod per node at steady state)
+#   max nodes:    8+ (headroom for web/worker/postgres/redis + HPA scale-out)
+#
+# Total worker-imports CPU/memory at steady state: 8 vCPU / 16 GiB reserved.
+
+efficientai:
+  web:
+    replicaCount: 2
+    resources:
+      requests: { cpu: "1", memory: "2Gi" }
+      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
+    autoscaling:
+      enabled: true
+      minReplicas: 2
+      maxReplicas: 10
+      targetCPUUtilizationPercentage: 60
+
+  worker:
+    replicaCount: 1
+    queues: celery,audio-metrics
+    concurrency: 8
+    command: []
+    resources:
+      requests: { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
+      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "8Gi" }
+
+  workerImports:
+    enabled: true
+    replicaCount: 4
+    queues: imports,diarization,evaluations
+    pool: threads
+    concurrency: 32
+    command: []
+    spreadAcrossNodes: true
+    resources:
+      requests: { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
+      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
+    autoscaling:
+      enabled: true
+      minReplicas: 4
+      maxReplicas: 8
+      targetCPUUtilizationPercentage: 70
+
+postgresql:
+  primary:
+    resources:
+      requests: { cpu: "1", memory: "2Gi" }
+      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "4Gi" }
+
+redis:
+  primary:
+    resources:
+      requests: { cpu: "500m", memory: "1Gi" }
+      limits:   { cpu: "2", memory: "2Gi" }