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Concerns are mounting over the real-world effectiveness of AI-driven crisis support after a Reddit user reported a significant delay in response time after being directed to a suicide hotline by an AI chatbot. The user’s experience, detailed in a post on the r/artificial subreddit, highlights a potential flaw in the design of such systems: automated referrals to resources that may not provide immediate assistance. The post argues that the delay, nearly five minutes in this instance, could exacerbate a user’s distress and ultimately prove detrimental. This incident raises critical questions about the ethical implications and practical limitations of integrating AI into mental health support networks. The original discussion can be found on Reddit: https://old.reddit.com/r/artificial/comments/1orvtn2/i_called_the_suicide_hotline_because_my_ai_kept/