diff --git a/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images.sh b/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images.sh
index 47a0a89237..c22ab9836f 100755
--- a/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images.sh
+++ b/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# Download Docker images with retry logic
+# Download Docker images with retry logic and controlled parallelism
 # Usage: download_docker_images.sh IMAGE1 [IMAGE2 ...]
+#
+# This script downloads multiple Docker images in parallel with controlled
+# parallelism (max 4 concurrent downloads) to improve performance without
+# overwhelming the system. Docker daemon supports concurrent pulls, which can
+# provide significant speedup when downloading multiple images.
+#
+# Each image is pulled with retry logic (3 attempts with exponential backoff).
+# The script fails if any image fails to download after all retry attempts.
 
-set -e
+set -euo pipefail
 
 # Helper function to pull Docker images with retry logic
 docker_pull_with_retry() {
@@ -13,7 +21,7 @@ docker_pull_with_retry() {
   
   while [ $attempt -le $max_attempts ]; do
     echo "Attempt $attempt of $max_attempts: Pulling $image..."
-    if docker pull --quiet "$image"; then
+    if docker pull --quiet "$image" 2>&1; then
       echo "Successfully pulled $image"
       return 0
     fi
@@ -30,7 +38,11 @@ docker_pull_with_retry() {
   done
 }
 
-# Pull all images passed as arguments
-for image in "$@"; do
-  docker_pull_with_retry "$image"
-done
+# Export function so xargs can use it
+export -f docker_pull_with_retry
+
+# Pull images with controlled parallelism using xargs
+echo "Starting download of ${#@} image(s) with max 4 concurrent downloads..."
+printf '%s\n' "$@" | xargs -P 4 -I {} bash -c 'docker_pull_with_retry "$@"' _ {}
+
+echo "All images downloaded successfully"
diff --git a/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images_test.sh b/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..3c8c22dc3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/actions/setup/sh/download_docker_images_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Test script for download_docker_images.sh
+# Tests concurrent download functionality
+
+set -e
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT="${SCRIPT_DIR}/download_docker_images.sh"
+
+# Colors for output
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
+NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+
+echo "=========================================="
+echo "Testing download_docker_images.sh"
+echo "=========================================="
+echo ""
+
+# Test 1: Single image download
+echo -e "${YELLOW}Test 1: Single image download${NC}"
+if bash "$DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT" alpine:3.19 > /tmp/test1.log 2>&1; then
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Single image download succeeded"
+else
+    echo -e "${RED}✗ FAIL${NC}: Single image download failed"
+    cat /tmp/test1.log
+    exit 1
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# Test 2: Multiple images concurrent download
+echo -e "${YELLOW}Test 2: Multiple images concurrent download${NC}"
+if bash "$DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT" alpine:3.18 alpine:3.17 > /tmp/test2.log 2>&1; then
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Multiple images download succeeded"
+    # Verify concurrent behavior by checking log contains download message
+    if grep -q "Starting download of 2 image(s) with max 4 concurrent downloads" /tmp/test2.log; then
+        echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Concurrent download mode confirmed"
+    else
+        echo -e "${RED}✗ FAIL${NC}: Expected concurrent download message not found"
+        cat /tmp/test2.log
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    echo -e "${RED}✗ FAIL${NC}: Multiple images download failed"
+    cat /tmp/test2.log
+    exit 1
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# Test 3: Already cached images (should be fast)
+echo -e "${YELLOW}Test 3: Already cached images${NC}"
+START_TIME=$(date +%s)
+if bash "$DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT" alpine:3.19 alpine:3.18 > /tmp/test3.log 2>&1; then
+    END_TIME=$(date +%s)
+    DURATION=$((END_TIME - START_TIME))
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Cached images download succeeded (${DURATION}s)"
+    # Cached images should complete quickly
+    if [ $DURATION -lt 10 ]; then
+        echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Cached download was fast (<10s)"
+    else
+        echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠ WARNING${NC}: Cached download took ${DURATION}s (expected <10s)"
+    fi
+else
+    echo -e "${RED}✗ FAIL${NC}: Cached images download failed"
+    cat /tmp/test3.log
+    exit 1
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# Test 4: Invalid image (should fail gracefully)
+echo -e "${YELLOW}Test 4: Invalid image (expected to fail)${NC}"
+if bash "$DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT" "nonexistent-registry.invalid/fake-image:v999" > /tmp/test4.log 2>&1; then
+    echo -e "${RED}✗ FAIL${NC}: Should have failed for invalid image"
+    exit 1
+else
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Failed as expected for invalid image"
+    # Check for expected error message
+    if grep -q "Failed to download" /tmp/test4.log; then
+        echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Error message present"
+    else
+        echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠ WARNING${NC}: Expected error message format not found"
+    fi
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# Test 5: Empty arguments (should handle gracefully)
+echo -e "${YELLOW}Test 5: No images provided${NC}"
+if bash "$DOWNLOAD_SCRIPT" > /tmp/test5.log 2>&1; then
+    echo -e "${GREEN}✓ PASS${NC}: Handled empty arguments gracefully"
+else
+    # This might fail which is also acceptable behavior
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠ INFO${NC}: Script exited with error for empty arguments (acceptable)"
+fi
+echo ""
+
+echo "=========================================="
+echo -e "${GREEN}All tests passed!${NC}"
+echo "=========================================="
+
+# Cleanup
+rm -f /tmp/test*.log
diff --git a/specs/artifacts.md b/specs/artifacts.md
index 9256a3fd34..0079d8e169 100644
--- a/specs/artifacts.md
+++ b/specs/artifacts.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
   - **Paths**: `${{ env.GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS }}`
   - **Used in**: 61 workflow(s) - agent-performance-analyzer.md, ai-moderator.md, archie.md, brave.md, breaking-change-checker.md, campaign-generator.md, changeset.md, ci-coach.md, ci-doctor.md, cli-consistency-checker.md, cloclo.md, commit-changes-analyzer.md, copilot-pr-merged-report.md, copilot-pr-nlp-analysis.md, craft.md, daily-choice-test.md, daily-copilot-token-report.md, daily-fact.md, daily-file-diet.md, daily-issues-report.md, daily-news.md, daily-repo-chronicle.md, deep-report.md, dependabot-go-checker.md, dev-hawk.md, dev.md, dictation-prompt.md, github-mcp-structural-analysis.md, glossary-maintainer.md, go-fan.md, go-pattern-detector.md, grumpy-reviewer.md, hourly-ci-cleaner.md, issue-classifier.md, issue-triage-agent.md, layout-spec-maintainer.md, mergefest.md, notion-issue-summary.md, pdf-summary.md, plan.md, playground-org-project-update-issue.md, playground-snapshots-refresh.md, poem-bot.md, pr-nitpick-reviewer.md, python-data-charts.md, q.md, release.md, repository-quality-improver.md, research.md, scout.md, security-compliance.md, slide-deck-maintainer.md, stale-repo-identifier.md, super-linter.md, technical-doc-writer.md, tidy.md, typist.md, video-analyzer.md, weekly-issue-summary.md, workflow-generator.md, workflow-health-manager.md
 - `safe-outputs-assets`
-  - **Paths**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Paths**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Used in**: 12 workflow(s) - copilot-pr-nlp-analysis.md, daily-copilot-token-report.md, daily-issues-report.md, daily-news.md, daily-repo-chronicle.md, deep-report.md, github-mcp-structural-analysis.md, poem-bot.md, python-data-charts.md, stale-repo-identifier.md, technical-doc-writer.md, weekly-issue-summary.md
 - `trending-charts`
   - **Paths**: `/tmp/gh-aw/python/charts/*.png`
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
   - **Download paths**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/`
   - **Used in**: 12 workflow(s) - copilot-pr-nlp-analysis.md, daily-copilot-token-report.md, daily-issues-report.md, daily-news.md, daily-repo-chronicle.md, deep-report.md, github-mcp-structural-analysis.md, poem-bot.md, python-data-charts.md, stale-repo-identifier.md, technical-doc-writer.md, weekly-issue-summary.md
 - `safe-outputs-assets`
-  - **Download paths**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download paths**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Used in**: 12 workflow(s) - copilot-pr-nlp-analysis.md, daily-copilot-token-report.md, daily-issues-report.md, daily-news.md, daily-repo-chronicle.md, deep-report.md, github-mcp-structural-analysis.md, poem-bot.md, python-data-charts.md, stale-repo-identifier.md, technical-doc-writer.md, weekly-issue-summary.md
 
 ## Workflows
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1095,7 +1095,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -1270,7 +1270,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -1498,7 +1498,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -1600,7 +1600,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -1706,7 +1706,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1763,7 +1763,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -1799,7 +1799,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -1864,7 +1864,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -2206,7 +2206,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -2263,7 +2263,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -3245,7 +3245,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -3307,7 +3307,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -3421,7 +3421,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -3478,7 +3478,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -4029,7 +4029,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -4086,7 +4086,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -4205,7 +4205,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -4267,7 +4267,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)
@@ -4491,7 +4491,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets`
   - **Upload paths**:
-    - `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+    - `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-artifacts`
   - **Upload paths**:
@@ -4548,7 +4548,7 @@ This section provides an overview of artifacts organized by job name, with dupli
 **Downloads:**
 
 - **Artifact**: `safe-outputs-assets` (by name)
-  - **Download path**: `/opt/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
+  - **Download path**: `/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/assets/`
   - **Depends on jobs**: [agent detection]
 
 - **Artifact**: `agent-output` (by name)