diff --git a/open_notebook/domain/base.py b/open_notebook/domain/base.py
index 0da80b5..ca569e2 100644
--- a/open_notebook/domain/base.py
+++ b/open_notebook/domain/base.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class ObjectModel(BaseModel):
             logger.debug(f"Validating {self.__class__.__name__}")
             self.model_validate(self.model_dump(), strict=True)
             data = self._prepare_save_data()
-            data["updated"] = datetime.now().isoformat()
+            data["updated"] = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
 
             if self.needs_embedding():
                 embedding_content = self.get_embedding_content()
@@ -82,10 +82,11 @@ class ObjectModel(BaseModel):
                     data["embedding"] = EMBEDDING_MODEL.embed(embedding_content)
 
             if self.id is None:
-                data["created"] = datetime.now().isoformat()
+                data["created"] = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
                 logger.debug("Creating new record")
                 repo_result = repo_create(self.__class__.table_name, data)
             else:
+                data["created"] = self.created.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
                 logger.debug(f"Updating record with id {self.id}")
                 repo_result = repo_update(self.id, data)