diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3e0e47c8..3813fd78 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
     - Added `max_workers` configuration parameter (default: 1) to all extractor `extract()` methods, allowing users to tune concurrency based on available CPU cores or API rate limits.
     - **Parallel Chunking**: Implemented parallel processing for large document chunking in `_extract_entities_chunked` and `_extract_relations_chunked`, significantly reducing latency for long-form text analysis.
     - **Thread-Safe Progress Tracking**: Enhanced `ProgressTracker` to handle concurrent updates from multiple threads without race conditions during batch processing.
+- **Semantic Extract Performance & Regression**:
+    - Added edge-case regression suite covering max worker defaults, LLM prompt entity filtering, and extractor reuse.
+    - Added a runnable real-use-case benchmark script for batch latency across `NERExtractor`, `RelationExtractor`, `TripletExtractor`, `EventDetector`, `SemanticAnalyzer`, and `SemanticNetworkExtractor`.
+    - Added Groq LLM smoke tests that exercise LLM-based entities/relations/triplets when `GROQ_API_KEY` is available via environment configuration.
 
 ### Security
 - **Credential Sanitization**:
@@ -29,12 +33,21 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - **Dependency Resolution**:
     - Pinned `opentelemetry-api` and `opentelemetry-sdk` to `1.37.0` to resolve pip conflicts.
     - Updated `protobuf` and `grpcio` constraints for better stability.
+- **Entity Filtering Scope**:
+    - Removed entity filtering from non-LLM extraction flows to avoid accuracy regressions.
+    - Applied entity downselection only to LLM relation prompt construction, while matching returned entities against the full original entity list.
+- **Batch Concurrency Defaults**:
+    - Standardized `max_workers` defaulting across `semantic_extract` and tuned for low-latency: ML-backed methods default to single-worker, while pattern/regex/rules/LLM/huggingface methods use a higher parallelism default capped by CPU.
+    - Raised the global `optimization.max_workers` default to 8 for better throughput on batch workloads.
 
 ### Performance
 - **Bottleneck Optimization (GitHub Issue #186)**:
     - **Resolved Bottleneck #1 (Sequential Processing)**: Replaced sequential `for` loops with parallel execution for both document-level batches and intra-document chunks.
     - **Performance Gains**: Achieved **~1.89x speedup** in real-world extraction scenarios (tested with Groq `llama-3.3-70b-versatile` on standard datasets).
     - **Initialization Optimization**: Refactored test suite to use class-level `setUpClass` for LLM provider initialization, eliminating redundant API client creation overhead.
+- **Low-Latency Entity Matching**:
+    - Avoided heavyweight embedding stack imports on common matches by improving fast matching heuristics and short-circuiting before embedding similarity.
+    - Optimized entity matching to prioritize exact/substring/word-boundary matches and only fall back to embedding similarity when needed, reducing CPU overhead in LLM relation/triplet mapping.
 
 
 ## [0.2.1] - 2026-01-12
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/config.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/config.py
index 49e4e492..640ecb3c 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/config.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/config.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ License: MIT
 """
 
 import os
+import multiprocessing
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Optional, Any
 
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ class Config:
         self._configs["optimization"] = {
             "enable_cache": True,
             "cache_size": 1000,
-            "max_workers": 5,
+            "max_workers": 8,
             "enable_batching": True,
             "batch_size": 10,
             "max_tokens_per_batch": 2000
@@ -151,3 +152,43 @@ class Config:
 
 # Global config instance
 config = Config()
+
+
+def resolve_max_workers(
+    explicit: Optional[int] = None,
+    local_config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+    methods: Optional[Any] = None,
+) -> int:
+    def to_int(val: Any, default: int) -> int:
+        try:
+            return int(val)
+        except Exception:
+            return default
+
+    if isinstance(methods, str):
+        normalized_methods = [methods]
+    elif isinstance(methods, (list, tuple, set)):
+        normalized_methods = [m for m in methods if isinstance(m, str)]
+    else:
+        normalized_methods = []
+
+    if explicit is not None:
+        value = to_int(explicit, 1)
+    elif local_config and "max_workers" in local_config:
+        value = to_int(local_config.get("max_workers", 1), 1)
+    else:
+        value = to_int(config.get("max_workers", 5), 5)
+
+    if "ml" in normalized_methods and explicit is None and not (local_config and "max_workers" in local_config):
+        value = 1
+
+    if value < 1:
+        value = 1
+
+    cpu_count = multiprocessing.cpu_count() or 1
+    if value > cpu_count:
+        value = cpu_count
+    if value > 32:
+        value = 32
+
+    return value
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/event_detector.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/event_detector.py
index adcecbc4..4ff70143 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/event_detector.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/event_detector.py
@@ -185,7 +185,12 @@ class EventDetector:
                     message=f"Starting batch detection... 0/{total_items} (remaining: {total_items})"
                 )
 
-                max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", self.config.get("max_workers", 1))
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                    methods=[self.config.get("ner_method"), self.config.get("relation_method"), self.config.get("method")],
+                )
 
                 def process_item(idx, item):
                     try:
@@ -269,17 +274,26 @@ class EventDetector:
             # Single item
             return self.detect_events(text, **kwargs)
 
-    def detect_events(self, text: str, **options) -> List[Event]:
+    def detect_events(
+        self,
+        text: Union[str, List[str], List[Dict[str, Any]]],
+        pipeline_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        **options,
+    ) -> Union[List[Event], List[List[Event]]]:
         """
         Detect events in text content.
 
         Args:
             text: Input text
+            pipeline_id: Optional pipeline ID for progress tracking (batch mode)
             **options: Detection options
 
         Returns:
             list: List of detected events
         """
+        if isinstance(text, list):
+            return self.extract(text, pipeline_id=pipeline_id, **options)
+
         tracking_id = self.progress_tracker.start_tracking(
             module="semantic_extract",
             submodule="EventDetector",
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/methods.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/methods.py
index 3e2acb1f..ab99e69c 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/methods.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/methods.py
@@ -287,6 +287,12 @@ def find_best_match_index(text: str, candidates: List[str]) -> Tuple[int, float]
                     best_idx = i
     
     # 2. Substring Match (Fast)
+    word_pat = None
+    try:
+        word_pat = re.compile(rf"\b{re.escape(text_lower)}\b")
+    except Exception:
+        word_pat = None
+
     for i, cand in enumerate(candidates_lower):
         if not cand: continue
         score = 0.0
@@ -294,12 +300,18 @@ def find_best_match_index(text: str, candidates: List[str]) -> Tuple[int, float]
             # Calculate length ratio
             ratio = min(len(text_lower), len(cand)) / max(len(text_lower), len(cand))
             score = 0.9 * ratio + 0.1
+
+            if word_pat and word_pat.search(cand):
+                score = max(score, 0.88)
         
         if score > best_score:
             best_score = score
             best_idx = i
 
     # 3. Text Embeddings (High Accuracy Semantic) - Batch Optimized
+    if best_score >= 0.85:
+        return best_idx, float(best_score)
+
     embedder = get_text_embedder()
     embedding_idx = -1
     embedding_score = 0.0
@@ -417,6 +429,86 @@ def match_entity(text: str, entities: List[Entity], threshold: float = 0.8) -> O
     return None
 
 
+def filter_entities_for_text(
+    text: str,
+    entities: List[Entity],
+    max_keep: int = 80,
+) -> List[Entity]:
+    if not text or not entities:
+        return []
+
+    if max_keep < 1:
+        return []
+
+    if len(entities) <= max_keep:
+        return entities
+
+    text_lower = text.lower()
+    stop_tokens = {
+        "inc",
+        "incorporated",
+        "corp",
+        "corporation",
+        "co",
+        "company",
+        "ltd",
+        "llc",
+        "plc",
+        "group",
+        "holdings",
+        "limited",
+        "the",
+        "and",
+        "or",
+        "of",
+        "in",
+        "on",
+        "at",
+        "for",
+        "to",
+        "a",
+        "an",
+    }
+
+    seen = set()
+    matched: List[Entity] = []
+    for entity in entities:
+        ent_text = getattr(entity, "text", "")
+        if not ent_text:
+            continue
+
+        key = ent_text.lower().strip()
+        if not key or key in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(key)
+
+        if key in text_lower:
+            matched.append(entity)
+            continue
+
+        tokens = re.findall(r"[a-z0-9]+", key)
+        keep = False
+        for tok in tokens:
+            if len(tok) < 2:
+                continue
+            if tok in stop_tokens:
+                continue
+            if tok in text_lower:
+                keep = True
+                break
+        if keep:
+            matched.append(entity)
+
+    if matched:
+        if len(matched) > max_keep:
+            matched.sort(key=lambda e: len(getattr(e, "text", "")), reverse=True)
+            return matched[:max_keep]
+        return matched
+
+    entities_sorted = sorted(entities, key=lambda e: len(getattr(e, "text", "")), reverse=True)
+    return entities_sorted[:max_keep]
+
+
 def calculate_weighted_confidence(
     item_type: str, 
     original_confidence: float, 
@@ -907,8 +999,8 @@ def _extract_entities_chunked(
     
     all_entities = []
     
-    # Process chunks in parallel
-    max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", 5)
+    from .config import resolve_max_workers
+    max_workers = resolve_max_workers(explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"))
     
     with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers) as executor:
         future_to_chunk = {}
@@ -1513,7 +1605,22 @@ def extract_relations_llm(
             **kwargs
         )
 
-    entities_str = ", ".join([f"{e.text} ({e.label})" for e in entities])
+    original_entities = entities
+    max_entities_prompt = kwargs.get("max_entities_prompt", kwargs.get("max_entities", 80))
+    try:
+        max_entities_prompt = int(max_entities_prompt)
+    except Exception:
+        max_entities_prompt = 80
+
+    prompt_entities = original_entities
+    if max_entities_prompt > 0 and len(original_entities) > max_entities_prompt:
+        prompt_entities = filter_entities_for_text(
+            text,
+            original_entities,
+            max_keep=max_entities_prompt,
+        )
+
+    entities_str = ", ".join([f"{e.text} ({e.label})" for e in prompt_entities])
     
     # Use custom relation types if provided
     relation_types = kwargs.get("relation_types")
@@ -1562,8 +1669,8 @@ Entities found in text: {entities_str}"""
         relations = []
         for r_out in result_obj.relations:
             # Find matching entities using hybrid similarity
-            subject_entity = match_entity(r_out.subject, entities)
-            object_entity = match_entity(r_out.object, entities)
+            subject_entity = match_entity(r_out.subject, original_entities)
+            object_entity = match_entity(r_out.object, original_entities)
             
             if subject_entity and object_entity:
                 relations.append(Relation(
@@ -1689,8 +1796,8 @@ def _extract_relations_chunked(
     
     all_relations = []
     
-    # Process chunks in parallel
-    max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", 5)
+    from .config import resolve_max_workers
+    max_workers = resolve_max_workers(explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"))
     
     with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers) as executor:
         future_to_chunk = {}
@@ -2093,8 +2200,8 @@ def _extract_triplets_chunked(
     
     all_triplets = []
     
-    # Process chunks in parallel
-    max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", 5)
+    from .config import resolve_max_workers
+    max_workers = resolve_max_workers(explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"))
     
     with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers) as executor:
         future_to_chunk = {}
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/ner_extractor.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/ner_extractor.py
index b6541a12..4ab7267f 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/ner_extractor.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/ner_extractor.py
@@ -197,8 +197,12 @@ class NERExtractor:
                     message=f"Starting batch extraction... 0/{total_items}"
                 )
                 
-                # Determine max_workers
-                max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", self.config.get("max_workers", 1))
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                    methods=self.method,
+                )
                 
                 # Helper function for single item processing
                 def process_item(idx, item):
@@ -297,12 +301,18 @@ class NERExtractor:
         else:
             return self.extract_entities(text, **kwargs)
 
-    def extract_entities(self, text: str, **options) -> List[Entity]:
+    def extract_entities(
+        self,
+        text: Union[str, List[Dict[str, Any]], List[str]],
+        pipeline_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        **options,
+    ) -> Union[List[Entity], List[List[Entity]]]:
         """
         Extract named entities from text.
 
         Args:
             text: Input text
+            pipeline_id: Optional pipeline ID for progress tracking (batch mode)
             **options: Extraction options:
                 - entity_types: Filter by entity types (list)
                 - min_confidence: Minimum confidence threshold
@@ -311,6 +321,9 @@ class NERExtractor:
         Returns:
             list: List of extracted entities
         """
+        if isinstance(text, list):
+            return self.extract(text, pipeline_id=pipeline_id, **options)
+
         tracking_id = self.progress_tracker.start_tracking(
             module="semantic_extract",
             submodule="NERExtractor",
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/relation_extractor.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/relation_extractor.py
index 3e706a70..d29bdcac 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/relation_extractor.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/relation_extractor.py
@@ -221,8 +221,12 @@ class RelationExtractor:
                     message=f"Starting batch extraction... 0/{min_len}"
                 )
                 
-                # Determine max_workers
-                max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", self.config.get("max_workers", 1))
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                    methods=self.method,
+                )
 
                 def process_item(i, doc_item, ent_item):
                     try:
@@ -325,14 +329,19 @@ class RelationExtractor:
             return []
 
     def extract_relations(
-        self, text: str, entities: List[Entity], **options
-    ) -> List[Relation]:
+        self,
+        text: Union[str, List[Dict[str, Any]], List[str]],
+        entities: Union[List[Entity], List[List[Entity]]],
+        pipeline_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        **options,
+    ) -> Union[List[Relation], List[List[Relation]]]:
         """
         Extract relations between entities.
 
         Args:
             text: Input text
             entities: List of extracted entities
+            pipeline_id: Optional pipeline ID for progress tracking (batch mode)
             **options: Extraction options:
                 - method: Override method (if not set in __init__)
                 - min_confidence: Minimum confidence threshold
@@ -341,6 +350,17 @@ class RelationExtractor:
         Returns:
             list: List of extracted relations
         """
+        if isinstance(text, list):
+            if entities is None:
+                entities_batch = [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+            elif isinstance(entities, list) and (not entities):
+                entities_batch = [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+            elif isinstance(entities, list) and all(isinstance(e, Entity) for e in entities):
+                entities_batch = [entities for _ in range(len(text))]
+            else:
+                entities_batch = entities
+            return self.extract(text, entities_batch, pipeline_id=pipeline_id, **options)
+
         from .methods import get_relation_method, match_entity
 
         tracking_id = self.progress_tracker.start_tracking(
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_analyzer.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_analyzer.py
index 56ef982c..787f06af 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_analyzer.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_analyzer.py
@@ -148,8 +148,9 @@ class SemanticAnalyzer:
             )
 
             try:
-                results = []
+                results = [None] * len(text)
                 total_items = len(text)
+                processed_count = 0
                 
                 # Determine update interval
                 if total_items <= 10:
@@ -165,40 +166,83 @@ class SemanticAnalyzer:
                     message=f"Starting batch analysis... 0/{total_items} (remaining: {total_items})"
                 )
 
-                for idx, item in enumerate(text):
-                    # Prepare arguments for single item
-                    doc_text = item["content"] if isinstance(item, dict) and "content" in item else str(item)
-                    
-                    # Analyze
-                    analysis = self.analyze_semantics(doc_text, **kwargs)
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                )
 
-                    # Add provenance metadata
-                    analysis["batch_index"] = idx
-                    if isinstance(item, dict) and "id" in item:
-                        analysis["document_id"] = item["id"]
-                        
-                    # Also inject into semantic roles if present
-                    if "semantic_roles" in analysis:
-                        for role in analysis["semantic_roles"]:
-                            # role is a dict here because analyze_semantics converts it
-                            if "metadata" not in role:
-                                role["metadata"] = {}
-                            
-                            role["metadata"]["batch_index"] = idx
-                            if isinstance(item, dict) and "id" in item:
-                                role["metadata"]["document_id"] = item["id"]
+                def process_item(idx, item):
+                    try:
+                        doc_text = item["content"] if isinstance(item, dict) and "content" in item else str(item)
+                        analysis = self.analyze_semantics(doc_text, **kwargs)
 
-                    results.append(analysis)
+                        analysis["batch_index"] = idx
+                        if isinstance(item, dict) and "id" in item:
+                            analysis["document_id"] = item["id"]
 
-                    # Update progress
-                    if (idx + 1) % update_interval == 0 or (idx + 1) == total_items:
-                        remaining = total_items - (idx + 1)
-                        self.progress_tracker.update_progress(
-                            tracking_id,
-                            processed=idx + 1,
-                            total=total_items,
-                            message=f"Processing... {idx + 1}/{total_items} (remaining: {remaining})"
+                        if "semantic_roles" in analysis:
+                            for role in analysis["semantic_roles"]:
+                                if "metadata" not in role:
+                                    role["metadata"] = {}
+
+                                role["metadata"]["batch_index"] = idx
+                                if isinstance(item, dict) and "id" in item:
+                                    role["metadata"]["document_id"] = item["id"]
+
+                        return idx, analysis
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        self.logger.warning(f"Failed to analyze item {idx}: {e}")
+                        return idx, {"error": str(e), "batch_index": idx}
+
+                if max_workers > 1:
+                    import concurrent.futures
+
+                    with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers) as executor:
+                        future_to_idx = {
+                            executor.submit(process_item, idx, item): idx
+                            for idx, item in enumerate(text)
+                        }
+
+                        for future in concurrent.futures.as_completed(future_to_idx):
+                            idx, analysis = future.result()
+                            results[idx] = analysis
+                            processed_count += 1
+
+                            should_update = (
+                                processed_count % update_interval == 0
+                                or processed_count == total_items
+                                or processed_count == 1
+                                or total_items <= 10
+                            )
+                            if should_update:
+                                remaining = total_items - processed_count
+                                self.progress_tracker.update_progress(
+                                    tracking_id,
+                                    processed=processed_count,
+                                    total=total_items,
+                                    message=f"Processing... {processed_count}/{total_items} (remaining: {remaining})"
+                                )
+                else:
+                    for idx, item in enumerate(text):
+                        _, analysis = process_item(idx, item)
+                        results[idx] = analysis
+                        processed_count += 1
+
+                        should_update = (
+                            processed_count % update_interval == 0
+                            or processed_count == total_items
+                            or processed_count == 1
+                            or total_items <= 10
                         )
+                        if should_update:
+                            remaining = total_items - processed_count
+                            self.progress_tracker.update_progress(
+                                tracking_id,
+                                processed=processed_count,
+                                total=total_items,
+                                message=f"Processing... {processed_count}/{total_items} (remaining: {remaining})"
+                            )
 
                 self.progress_tracker.stop_tracking(
                     tracking_id,
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_network_extractor.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_network_extractor.py
index d559c697..48f25424 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_network_extractor.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/semantic_network_extractor.py
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
             self.config["ner_method"] = method
             self.config["relation_method"] = method
 
+        self._ner_extractor = None
+        self._relation_extractor = None
+
     def extract(
         self,
         text: Union[str, List[str], List[Dict[str, Any]]],
@@ -199,8 +202,11 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
                     message=f"Starting batch extraction... 0/{total_items} (remaining: {total_items})"
                 )
 
-                # Determine max_workers
-                max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", self.config.get("max_workers", 1))
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                )
 
                 def process_item(idx, item, doc_entities, doc_relations):
                     try:
@@ -318,11 +324,12 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
 
     def extract_network(
         self,
-        text: str,
-        entities: Optional[List[Entity]] = None,
-        relations: Optional[List[Relation]] = None,
+        text: Union[str, List[str], List[Dict[str, Any]]],
+        entities: Optional[Union[List[Entity], List[List[Entity]]]] = None,
+        relations: Optional[Union[List[Relation], List[List[Relation]]]] = None,
+        pipeline_id: Optional[str] = None,
         **options,
-    ) -> SemanticNetwork:
+    ) -> Union[SemanticNetwork, List[SemanticNetwork]]:
         """
         Extract semantic network from text.
 
@@ -335,6 +342,23 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
         Returns:
             SemanticNetwork: Extracted semantic network
         """
+        if isinstance(text, list):
+            entities_batch = entities
+            if entities is not None and isinstance(entities, list) and (not entities or all(isinstance(e, Entity) for e in entities)):
+                entities_batch = [entities for _ in range(len(text))] if entities else [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+
+            relations_batch = relations
+            if relations is not None and isinstance(relations, list) and (not relations or all(isinstance(r, Relation) for r in relations)):
+                relations_batch = [relations for _ in range(len(text))] if relations else [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+
+            return self.extract(
+                text,
+                entities=entities_batch,
+                relations=relations_batch,
+                pipeline_id=pipeline_id,
+                **options,
+            )
+
         tracking_id = self.progress_tracker.start_tracking(
             module="semantic_extract",
             submodule="SemanticNetworkExtractor",
@@ -354,15 +378,16 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
                 # Pass method if specified
                 if "ner_method" in self.config:
                     ner_config["method"] = self.config["ner_method"]
-                ner = NERExtractor(
-                    **ner_config,
-                    **{
-                        k: v
-                        for k, v in self.config.items()
-                        if k not in ["ner", "relation"]
-                    },
-                )
-                entities = ner.extract_entities(text, **options)
+                if self._ner_extractor is None:
+                    self._ner_extractor = NERExtractor(
+                        **ner_config,
+                        **{
+                            k: v
+                            for k, v in self.config.items()
+                            if k not in ["ner", "relation"]
+                        },
+                    )
+                entities = self._ner_extractor.extract_entities(text, **options)
 
             # Extract relations if not provided
             if relations is None:
@@ -373,15 +398,16 @@ class SemanticNetworkExtractor:
                 # Pass method if specified
                 if "relation_method" in self.config:
                     rel_config["method"] = self.config["relation_method"]
-                rel_extractor = RelationExtractor(
-                    **rel_config,
-                    **{
-                        k: v
-                        for k, v in self.config.items()
-                        if k not in ["ner", "relation"]
-                    },
-                )
-                relations = rel_extractor.extract_relations(text, entities, **options)
+                if self._relation_extractor is None:
+                    self._relation_extractor = RelationExtractor(
+                        **rel_config,
+                        **{
+                            k: v
+                            for k, v in self.config.items()
+                            if k not in ["ner", "relation"]
+                        },
+                    )
+                relations = self._relation_extractor.extract_relations(text, entities, **options)
 
             # Build network
             total_steps = 2  # Create nodes, create edges
diff --git a/semantica/semantic_extract/triplet_extractor.py b/semantica/semantic_extract/triplet_extractor.py
index e1b5c94e..c7f3f9d9 100644
--- a/semantica/semantic_extract/triplet_extractor.py
+++ b/semantica/semantic_extract/triplet_extractor.py
@@ -143,6 +143,13 @@ class TripletExtractor:
         if not self.progress_tracker.enabled:
             self.progress_tracker.enabled = True
 
+        if method is not None:
+            self.config["ner_method"] = method
+            self.config["relation_method"] = method
+
+        self._ner_extractor = None
+        self._relation_extractor = None
+
         # Store parameters
         self.triplet_types = triplet_types
         self.include_temporal = include_temporal
@@ -210,8 +217,12 @@ class TripletExtractor:
                     message=f"Starting batch extraction... 0/{total_items}"
                 )
 
-                # Determine max_workers
-                max_workers = kwargs.get("max_workers", self.config.get("max_workers", 1))
+                from .config import resolve_max_workers
+                max_workers = resolve_max_workers(
+                    explicit=kwargs.get("max_workers"),
+                    local_config=self.config,
+                    methods=self.method,
+                )
 
                 def process_item(idx, item):
                     try:
@@ -307,11 +318,12 @@ class TripletExtractor:
 
     def extract_triplets(
         self,
-        text: str,
-        entities: Optional[List[Entity]] = None,
-        relations: Optional[List[Relation]] = None,
+        text: Union[str, List[str], List[Dict[str, Any]]],
+        entities: Optional[Union[List[Entity], List[List[Entity]]]] = None,
+        relations: Optional[Union[List[Relation], List[List[Relation]]]] = None,
+        pipeline_id: Optional[str] = None,
         **options,
-    ) -> List[Triplet]:
+    ) -> Union[List[Triplet], List[List[Triplet]]]:
         """
         Extract RDF triplets from text.
 
@@ -319,11 +331,29 @@ class TripletExtractor:
             text: Input text
             entities: Pre-extracted entities (optional)
             relations: Pre-extracted relations (optional)
+            pipeline_id: Optional pipeline ID for progress tracking (batch mode)
             **options: Extraction options
 
         Returns:
             list: List of extracted triplets
         """
+        if isinstance(text, list):
+            entities_batch = entities
+            if entities is not None and isinstance(entities, list) and (not entities or all(isinstance(e, Entity) for e in entities)):
+                entities_batch = [entities for _ in range(len(text))] if entities else [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+
+            relations_batch = relations
+            if relations is not None and isinstance(relations, list) and (not relations or all(isinstance(r, Relation) for r in relations)):
+                relations_batch = [relations for _ in range(len(text))] if relations else [[] for _ in range(len(text))]
+
+            return self.extract(
+                text,
+                entities=entities_batch,
+                relations=relations_batch,
+                pipeline_id=pipeline_id,
+                **options,
+            )
+
         from .methods import get_triplet_method
 
         tracking_id = self.progress_tracker.start_tracking(
@@ -341,16 +371,38 @@ class TripletExtractor:
                 self.progress_tracker.update_tracking(
                     tracking_id, message="Extracting entities..."
                 )
-                ner = NERExtractor(**self.config.get("ner", {}))
-                entities = ner.extract_entities(text)
+                if self._ner_extractor is None:
+                    ner_config = self.config.get("ner", {})
+                    if "ner_method" in self.config:
+                        ner_config = {**ner_config, "method": self.config["ner_method"]}
+                    self._ner_extractor = NERExtractor(
+                        **ner_config,
+                        **{
+                            k: v
+                            for k, v in self.config.items()
+                            if k not in ["ner", "relation", "validator", "serializer", "quality"]
+                        },
+                    )
+                entities = self._ner_extractor.extract_entities(text)
 
             # Extract relations if not provided
             if relations is None:
                 self.progress_tracker.update_tracking(
                     tracking_id, message="Extracting relations..."
                 )
-                rel_extractor = RelationExtractor(**self.config.get("relation", {}))
-                relations = rel_extractor.extract_relations(text, entities)
+                if self._relation_extractor is None:
+                    rel_config = self.config.get("relation", {})
+                    if "relation_method" in self.config:
+                        rel_config = {**rel_config, "method": self.config["relation_method"]}
+                    self._relation_extractor = RelationExtractor(
+                        **rel_config,
+                        **{
+                            k: v
+                            for k, v in self.config.items()
+                            if k not in ["ner", "relation", "validator", "serializer", "quality"]
+                        },
+                    )
+                relations = self._relation_extractor.extract_relations(text, entities)
 
             # Use method-based extraction
             methods = options.get("method", self.method)
diff --git a/tests/semantic_extract/perf_real_use_cases.py b/tests/semantic_extract/perf_real_use_cases.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..18c8b99d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/semantic_extract/perf_real_use_cases.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+import statistics
+import time
+import os
+import sys
+from typing import Dict, List
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../..")))
+
+from semantica.semantic_extract.event_detector import EventDetector
+from semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor import NERExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor import RelationExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.semantic_analyzer import SemanticAnalyzer
+from semantica.semantic_extract.semantic_network_extractor import SemanticNetworkExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.triplet_extractor import TripletExtractor
+from semantica.utils.progress_tracker import get_progress_tracker
+
+
+def _make_documents(n: int) -> List[Dict[str, str]]:
+    base = (
+        "Apple Inc. was founded by Steve Jobs in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California. "
+        "Microsoft Corporation was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. "
+        "In 2014, Apple acquired Beats Electronics for $3 billion. "
+        "In 2023, Google announced a partnership with OpenAI to improve search experiences."
+    )
+    return [{"id": f"doc_{i}", "content": f"{base} Document number {i}."} for i in range(n)]
+
+
+def _median_seconds(fn, repeats: int = 3) -> float:
+    times = []
+    for _ in range(repeats):
+        start = time.perf_counter()
+        fn()
+        times.append(time.perf_counter() - start)
+    return statistics.median(times)
+
+
+def _bench(label: str, fn, repeats: int = 3) -> dict:
+    fn()
+    seconds = _median_seconds(fn, repeats=repeats)
+    return {"label": label, "seconds": seconds}
+
+
+def main():
+    progress = get_progress_tracker()
+    progress.displays = []
+
+    docs = _make_documents(80)
+    texts = [d["content"] for d in docs]
+
+    ner = NERExtractor(method="pattern")
+    rel = RelationExtractor(method="pattern")
+    trip = TripletExtractor(method="pattern")
+    events = EventDetector(method="pattern")
+    analyzer = SemanticAnalyzer()
+    net = SemanticNetworkExtractor(ner_method="pattern", relation_method="pattern")
+
+    results = []
+
+    def ner_parallel():
+        ner.extract(texts)
+
+    def ner_seq():
+        ner.extract(texts, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("NER batch (default workers)", ner_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("NER batch (max_workers=1)", ner_seq))
+
+    entities_batch = ner.extract(texts)
+
+    def rel_parallel():
+        rel.extract(texts, entities_batch)
+
+    def rel_seq():
+        rel.extract(texts, entities_batch, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("Relation batch (default workers)", rel_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("Relation batch (max_workers=1)", rel_seq))
+
+    def trip_parallel():
+        trip.extract(texts)
+
+    def trip_seq():
+        trip.extract(texts, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("Triplet pipeline (default workers)", trip_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("Triplet pipeline (max_workers=1)", trip_seq))
+
+    def ev_parallel():
+        events.detect_events(texts)
+
+    def ev_seq():
+        events.detect_events(texts, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("Event detection (default workers)", ev_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("Event detection (max_workers=1)", ev_seq))
+
+    def analyzer_parallel():
+        analyzer.analyze(texts)
+
+    def analyzer_seq():
+        analyzer.analyze(texts, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("Semantic analysis (default workers)", analyzer_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("Semantic analysis (max_workers=1)", analyzer_seq))
+
+    def net_parallel():
+        net.extract_network(texts)
+
+    def net_seq():
+        net.extract_network(texts, max_workers=1)
+
+    results.append(_bench("Semantic network (default workers)", net_parallel))
+    results.append(_bench("Semantic network (max_workers=1)", net_seq))
+
+    per_doc = []
+    for row in results:
+        per_doc.append({**row, "ms_per_doc": (row["seconds"] / len(texts)) * 1000.0})
+
+    print(f"Documents: {len(texts)}")
+    for row in per_doc:
+        print(f"{row['label']}: {row['seconds']:.3f}s  ({row['ms_per_doc']:.2f} ms/doc)")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/tests/semantic_extract/test_extractors.py b/tests/semantic_extract/test_extractors.py
index 6258394e..7aee7515 100644
--- a/tests/semantic_extract/test_extractors.py
+++ b/tests/semantic_extract/test_extractors.py
@@ -7,8 +7,12 @@ import os
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../..")))
 
 from semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor import NERExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor import Entity as NEREntity
 from semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor import RelationExtractor
 from semantica.semantic_extract.triplet_extractor import TripletExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.event_detector import EventDetector
+from semantica.semantic_extract.semantic_analyzer import SemanticAnalyzer
+from semantica.semantic_extract.semantic_network_extractor import SemanticNetworkExtractor
 from semantica.semantic_extract.named_entity_recognizer import Entity
 from semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor import Relation
 
@@ -51,6 +55,21 @@ class TestExtractors(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(entities, list)
         mock_get_method.assert_called()
 
+    @patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_entity_method")
+    def test_ner_extraction_batch_via_extract_entities(self, mock_get_method):
+        mock_method = MagicMock()
+        mock_method.extract_entities.return_value = []
+        mock_get_method.return_value = mock_method
+
+        extractor = NERExtractor(method="pattern")
+        results = extractor.extract_entities(
+            ["Test text 1", "Test text 2"],
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(r, list) for r in results))
+
     @patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_relation_method")
     def test_relation_extraction(self, mock_get_method):
         """Test relation extraction call"""
@@ -65,6 +84,21 @@ class TestExtractors(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(relations, list)
         mock_get_method.assert_called()
 
+    @patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_relation_method")
+    def test_relation_extraction_batch_via_extract_relations(self, mock_get_method):
+        mock_method = MagicMock()
+        mock_method.extract_relations.return_value = []
+        mock_get_method.return_value = mock_method
+
+        extractor = RelationExtractor(method="pattern")
+        texts = ["A knows B", "A knows B"]
+        entities = [NEREntity(text="A", label="PERSON", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0)]
+
+        results = extractor.extract_relations(texts, entities)
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(r, list) for r in results))
+
     @patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_triplet_method")
     def test_triplet_extraction(self, mock_get_method):
         """Test triplet extraction call"""
@@ -81,5 +115,55 @@ class TestExtractors(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(triplets, list)
         mock_get_method.assert_called()
 
+    @patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_triplet_method")
+    def test_triplet_extraction_batch_via_extract_triplets(self, mock_get_method):
+        mock_method = MagicMock()
+        mock_method.extract_triplets.return_value = []
+        mock_get_method.return_value = mock_method
+
+        extractor = TripletExtractor(method="pattern")
+        texts = ["A knows A", "A knows A"]
+        entities_batch = [[NEREntity(text="A", label="PERSON", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0)] for _ in texts]
+        relations_batch = [[] for _ in texts]
+
+        results = extractor.extract_triplets(
+            texts,
+            entities=entities_batch,
+            relations=relations_batch,
+        )
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(r, list) for r in results))
+
+    def test_event_detector_batch_via_detect_events(self):
+        detector = EventDetector()
+        texts = ["Apple acquired Beats in 2014.", "Google announced a partnership in 2023."]
+        results = detector.detect_events(texts)
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(r, list) for r in results))
+
+    def test_semantic_analyzer_batch_parallel(self):
+        analyzer = SemanticAnalyzer()
+        texts = ["A short sentence.", "Another short sentence."]
+        results = analyzer.analyze(texts)
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(r, dict) for r in results))
+
+    def test_semantic_network_batch_via_extract_network(self):
+        extractor = SemanticNetworkExtractor()
+        texts = ["A knows B.", "C knows D."]
+        entities_batch = [[] for _ in texts]
+        relations_batch = [[] for _ in texts]
+        results = extractor.extract_network(
+            texts,
+            entities=entities_batch,
+            relations=relations_batch,
+        )
+        self.assertIsInstance(results, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 2)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/semantic_extract/test_llm_smoke_groq.py b/tests/semantic_extract/test_llm_smoke_groq.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c19f4204
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/semantic_extract/test_llm_smoke_groq.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import os
+
+import pytest
+
+try:
+    from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+    load_dotenv()
+except Exception:
+    pass
+
+pytest.importorskip("groq")
+
+from semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor import NERExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor import RelationExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.triplet_extractor import TripletExtractor
+
+
+def test_groq_llm_smoke_entities_relations_triplets():
+    if not os.getenv("GROQ_API_KEY"):
+        pytest.skip("GROQ_API_KEY is not set")
+
+    text = (
+        "Apple acquired Beats in 2014 for $3 billion. "
+        "Steve Jobs founded Apple. "
+        "Beats is based in California."
+    )
+    model = "llama-3.3-70b-versatile"
+
+    entities = NERExtractor(method="llm").extract(
+        text,
+        provider="groq",
+        model=model,
+        temperature=0.0,
+        max_tokens=250,
+    )
+    assert isinstance(entities, list)
+    assert len(entities) > 0
+    assert len(entities) <= 30
+
+    relations = RelationExtractor(method="llm").extract(
+        text,
+        entities=entities,
+        provider="groq",
+        model=model,
+        temperature=0.0,
+        max_tokens=350,
+        max_entities_prompt=12,
+    )
+    assert isinstance(relations, list)
+    assert len(relations) <= 30
+
+    triplets = TripletExtractor(method="llm").extract(
+        text,
+        entities=entities,
+        relations=relations,
+        provider="groq",
+        model=model,
+        temperature=0.0,
+        max_tokens=350,
+    )
+    assert isinstance(triplets, list)
+    assert len(triplets) <= 40
diff --git a/tests/semantic_extract/test_performance.py b/tests/semantic_extract/test_performance.py
index 3152defd..a98afab7 100644
--- a/tests/semantic_extract/test_performance.py
+++ b/tests/semantic_extract/test_performance.py
@@ -168,12 +168,11 @@ class TestSemanticExtractImprovements(unittest.TestCase):
         texts = ["Text 1", "Text 2", "Text 3", "Text 4"]
         
         start_time = time.time()
-        # Run with 2 workers
-        results = extractor.extract(texts, max_workers=2)
+        results = extractor.extract(texts)
         end_time = time.time()
         
         duration = end_time - start_time
-        print(f"  Parallel NER (2 workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
+        print(f"  Parallel NER (default workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
         
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 4)
         
@@ -206,11 +205,11 @@ class TestSemanticExtractImprovements(unittest.TestCase):
         entities = [[], [], [], []]
         
         start_time = time.time()
-        results = extractor.extract(texts, entities, max_workers=2)
+        results = extractor.extract(texts, entities)
         end_time = time.time()
         
         duration = end_time - start_time
-        print(f"  Parallel RE (2 workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
+        print(f"  Parallel RE (default workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
         
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 4)
         
@@ -264,11 +263,11 @@ class TestSemanticExtractImprovements(unittest.TestCase):
         texts = ["Text 1", "Text 2", "Text 3", "Text 4"]
         
         start_time = time.time()
-        results = extractor.extract(texts, max_workers=2)
+        results = extractor.extract(texts)
         end_time = time.time()
         
         duration = end_time - start_time
-        print(f"  Parallel TE (2 workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
+        print(f"  Parallel TE (default workers) took {duration:.4f}s")
         
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 4)
         
diff --git a/tests/semantic_extract/test_regression_performance_edge_cases.py b/tests/semantic_extract/test_regression_performance_edge_cases.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38caabca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/semantic_extract/test_regression_performance_edge_cases.py
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+import multiprocessing
+import time
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from semantica.semantic_extract.config import resolve_max_workers
+from semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor import Entity, NERExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor import RelationExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.triplet_extractor import TripletExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.semantic_network_extractor import SemanticNetworkExtractor
+from semantica.semantic_extract.methods import filter_entities_for_text
+from semantica.semantic_extract.schemas import RelationsResponse, RelationOut
+
+
+def test_resolve_max_workers_defaults_and_clamps():
+    cpu_count = multiprocessing.cpu_count() or 1
+
+    assert resolve_max_workers(explicit=0) == 1
+    assert resolve_max_workers(explicit=-10) == 1
+    assert resolve_max_workers(explicit=1) == 1
+    assert resolve_max_workers(explicit=10**9) == min(cpu_count, 32)
+
+    assert resolve_max_workers(explicit=None, methods=["ml"]) == 1
+
+
+def test_filter_entities_for_text_keeps_short_tokens():
+    text = "US AI lab in NY"
+    entities = [
+        Entity(text="US", label="GPE", start_char=0, end_char=2, confidence=1.0),
+        Entity(text="AI", label="TECH", start_char=3, end_char=5, confidence=1.0),
+        Entity(text="NY", label="GPE", start_char=13, end_char=15, confidence=1.0),
+    ]
+    kept = filter_entities_for_text(text, entities, max_keep=2)
+    kept_texts = {e.text for e in kept}
+    assert "US" in kept_texts or "AI" in kept_texts or "NY" in kept_texts
+
+
+def test_pattern_batch_defaults_to_single_worker_low_latency():
+    extractor = NERExtractor(method="pattern")
+    texts = [f"Text {i}" for i in range(8)]
+    extractor.extract(texts)
+
+
+def test_relation_llm_prompt_filter_does_not_break_mapping():
+    entities = [Entity(text=f"VeryLongEntityName{i}", label="ORG", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0) for i in range(120)]
+    ghost = Entity(text="Ghost", label="ORG", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0)
+    entities.append(ghost)
+
+    captured = {}
+
+    class FakeLLM:
+        def is_available(self):
+            return True
+
+        def generate_typed(self, prompt, schema, **kwargs):
+            captured["prompt"] = prompt
+            return RelationsResponse(
+                relations=[
+                    RelationOut(subject="Ghost", predicate="related_to", object="VeryLongEntityName0", confidence=0.9)
+                ]
+            )
+
+    with patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.create_provider", return_value=FakeLLM()):
+        from semantica.semantic_extract.methods import extract_relations_llm
+
+        relations = extract_relations_llm(
+            "Short text mentioning VeryLongEntityName0 only.",
+            entities=entities,
+            provider="openai",
+            model="gpt-4",
+            max_entities_prompt=20,
+        )
+
+    assert "Ghost" not in captured["prompt"]
+    assert len(relations) == 1
+    assert relations[0].subject.text == "Ghost"
+
+
+def test_triplet_extractor_reuses_sub_extractors():
+    ner_instance = MagicMock()
+    ner_instance.extract_entities.return_value = [
+        Entity(text="A", label="PERSON", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0)
+    ]
+
+    rel_instance = MagicMock()
+    rel_instance.extract_relations.return_value = []
+
+    ner_ctor = MagicMock(return_value=ner_instance)
+    rel_ctor = MagicMock(return_value=rel_instance)
+
+    with patch("semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor.NERExtractor", ner_ctor), patch(
+        "semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor.RelationExtractor", rel_ctor
+    ), patch("semantica.semantic_extract.methods.get_triplet_method", return_value=lambda *args, **kwargs: []):
+        extractor = TripletExtractor(method="pattern")
+        extractor.extract_triplets("A text.")
+        extractor.extract_triplets("A text again.")
+
+    assert ner_ctor.call_count == 1
+    assert rel_ctor.call_count == 1
+
+
+def test_semantic_network_extractor_reuses_sub_extractors():
+    ner_instance = MagicMock()
+    ner_instance.extract_entities.return_value = [
+        Entity(text="A", label="PERSON", start_char=0, end_char=1, confidence=1.0)
+    ]
+
+    rel_instance = MagicMock()
+    rel_instance.extract_relations.return_value = []
+
+    ner_ctor = MagicMock(return_value=ner_instance)
+    rel_ctor = MagicMock(return_value=rel_instance)
+
+    with patch("semantica.semantic_extract.ner_extractor.NERExtractor", ner_ctor), patch(
+        "semantica.semantic_extract.relation_extractor.RelationExtractor", rel_ctor
+    ):
+        extractor = SemanticNetworkExtractor(method="pattern")
+        extractor.extract_network("A text.")
+        extractor.extract_network("A text again.")
+
+    assert ner_ctor.call_count == 1
+    assert rel_ctor.call_count == 1