diff --git a/aider/watch.py b/aider/watch.py
index 4d0f21edd..156033f40 100644
--- a/aider/watch.py
+++ b/aider/watch.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class FileWatcher:
     """Watches source files for changes and AI comments"""
 
     # Compiled regex pattern for AI comments
-    ai_comment_pattern = re.compile(r"(?:#|//|--) *(ai\b.*|ai\b.*|.*\bai!?) *$", re.IGNORECASE)
+    ai_comment_pattern = re.compile(r"(?:#|//|--) *(ai\b.*|ai\b.*|.*\bai[?!]?) *$", re.IGNORECASE)
 
     def __init__(self, coder, gitignores=None, verbose=False, analytics=None):
         self.coder = coder