diff --git a/src/mlops_nlp/utils/drift.py b/src/mlops_nlp/utils/drift.py
index a56241f..3e0e85f 100644
--- a/src/mlops_nlp/utils/drift.py
+++ b/src/mlops_nlp/utils/drift.py
@@ -15,6 +15,32 @@
 
 LOGGER = get_logger(__name__)
 
+def log_inference(
+    log_path: str | Path,
+    text: str,
+    prediction: str,
+    confidence: float,
+    model_version: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Logs inference data to a JSONL file for future drift detection."""
+    from datetime import datetime, timezone
+    log_entry = {
+        "timestamp": datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        "text": text,
+        "prediction": prediction,
+        "confidence": confidence,
+        "model_version": model_version,
+    }
+    
+    path = Path(log_path)
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    
+    try:
+        with path.open("a", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            f.write(json.dumps(log_entry) + "\n")
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOGGER.error("Failed to log inference data: %s", e)
+
 def run_drift_check(config: AppConfig) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """
     Runs a drift detection check comparing reference (training) data