Andrew Hastie says AI advised him to reply ‘congratulations!’ to man who planned to end life with assist...

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Published: 2026-09-18T09:26:15.952Z • Permanent link

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has revealed that an artificial intelligence system advised him to reply 'congratulations!' to a man who had planned to end his life with the aid of a suicide prevention app. The incident occurred in January 2022, when Hastie was serving as the Australian Cyber Security Minister. Hastie's response was part of an investigation into the AI-powered chatbot, which was being tested by the Australian government as a tool to identify potential suicidal individuals. The chatbot, developed by a team of researchers from the University of Melbourne, uses natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to analyze user inputs and provide support or intervene when necessary.

Hastie's response to the man's message was seen as a crucial moment in the development of the chatbot, as it highlighted the potential limitations and challenges of relying on AI systems to detect suicidal ideation. The incident also raised questions about the ethics of using AI in crisis intervention and the need for more robust testing and evaluation of such systems. Hastie's comments have since sparked a wider debate about the role of AI in mental health and the potential risks and benefits of using these technologies to support vulnerable individuals.

The chatbot in question was part of a larger project aimed at developing AI-powered tools to detect and prevent suicidal behavior. The project, which was funded by the Australian government, involved a team of researchers from the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions. The chatbot was designed to analyze user inputs and provide support or intervene when necessary, but its effectiveness was not yet proven, and the incident highlighted the need for further testing and evaluation.

The incident raises important questions about the potential risks and benefits of using AI in crisis intervention and mental health support. The use of AI-powered chatbots and other technologies to detect and prevent suicidal behavior has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach mental health support, but it also raises concerns about the potential for these systems to misidentify or misinterpret user inputs. The incident highlights the need for more robust testing and evaluation of these systems, as well as the need for policymakers and regulators to consider the potential risks and benefits of using AI in crisis intervention.

The incident also has implications for the tech industry, which is increasingly investing in AI-powered mental health support systems. Companies such as BetterHelp and 7 Cups are already using AI-powered chatbots to provide mental health support, and the incident highlights the need for these systems to be tested and evaluated for their effectiveness and safety. The incident also raises questions about the potential for AI-powered mental health support systems to be used in high-pressure situations, such as in emergency response situations.

The incident is part of a larger pattern of increasing investment in AI-powered mental health support systems. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the potential benefits of using AI and other technologies to support mental health, and the tech industry has responded with a wave of new products and services aimed at detecting and preventing suicidal behavior. However, the incident also highlights the need for policymakers and regulators to consider the potential risks and benefits of using AI in crisis intervention, and to develop more robust guidelines and standards for the development and deployment of these systems.