diff --git a/src/app/api/forum/ai-assist/route.ts b/src/app/api/forum/ai-assist/route.ts
index ccf37f6..142c15e 100644
--- a/src/app/api/forum/ai-assist/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/forum/ai-assist/route.ts
@@ -1,66 +1,5 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';
-import { createClient } from '@/lib/supabase/server';
-import { hybridAI } from '@/lib/ai/hybridRouter';
 
-export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
-  try {
-    const body = await req.json();
-    const { thread_id, question, thread_title, thread_body, replies } = body;
-
-    if (!thread_id || !question) {
-      return NextResponse.json({ error: 'thread_id and question are required' }, { status: 400 });
-    }
-
-    const existingContext = replies?.length
-      ? replies.map((r: any) => `${r.author_name}: ${r.body}`).join('\n\n')
-      : '';
-
-    const result = await hybridAI(
-      [
-        {
-          role: 'system',
-          content: `You are the AV Beat AI Assistant — a knowledgeable, helpful assistant for pro AV, live production, and display tech professionals. You have deep expertise in AV technology including AV-over-IP, control systems, projection & display, audio engineering, conferencing, live production, signal flow, and the pro AV industry.
-
-You are responding in a community forum. Be helpful, technically accurate, and conversational. Acknowledge when a question is complex or when professional consultation is advisable. Keep responses focused and practical — broadcast engineers value concise, actionable information.
-
-Important: You are an AI assistant. Be transparent about this if asked. Do not pretend to be a human.`,
-        },
-        {
-          role: 'user',
-          content: `Forum thread: "${thread_title}"
-
-Original post: ${thread_body}
-
-${existingContext ? `Existing discussion:\n${existingContext}\n\n` : ''}New question: ${question}
-
-Please provide a helpful, technically accurate response for this pro AV / live production forum thread.`,
-        },
-      ],
-      { maxTokens: 600, isBackground: false, priority: 2 }
-    );
-
-    const aiResponseText = result.text;
-
-    if (!aiResponseText) {
-      return NextResponse.json({ error: 'No response from AI' }, { status: 500 });
-    }
-
-    const supabase = await createClient();
-    const { data: savedReply, error: saveError } = await supabase
-      .from('forum_replies')
-      .insert({
-        thread_id,
-        body: aiResponseText,
-        author_name: 'AV Beat AI',
-        is_ai_response: true,
-      })
-      .select()
-      .single();
-
-    if (saveError) throw saveError;
-
-    return NextResponse.json({ reply: savedReply });
-  } catch (err: any) {
-    return NextResponse.json({ error: err.message }, { status: 500 });
-  }
-}
+export async function POST(_req: NextRequest) {
+  return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Feature unavailable' }, { status: 410 });
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/forum/page.tsx b/src/app/forum/page.tsx
index ff88393..9283d2b 100644
--- a/src/app/forum/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/forum/page.tsx
@@ -629,7 +629,6 @@ export default function ForumIndexPage() {
             <ul className="text-[#475569] font-body text-sm space-y-1">
               <li>• Be respectful and professional — this is a community of peers</li>
               <li>• Share real-world experience and cite sources when possible</li>
-              <li>• The <span className="text-[#1D4ED8]">AV Beat AI</span> assistant is available in threads to help answer questions — it is clearly labeled</li>
               <li>• No spam, self-promotion, or vendor pitches without disclosure</li>
             </ul>
           </div>
diff --git a/src/app/forum/thread/[id]/page.tsx b/src/app/forum/thread/[id]/page.tsx
index 44c2d4d..64df2cc 100644
--- a/src/app/forum/thread/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/forum/thread/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -64,14 +64,7 @@ function timeAgo(dateStr: string): string {
   return new Date(dateStr).toLocaleDateString();
 }
 
-function Avatar({ name, isAI }: { name: string; isAI: boolean }) {
-  if (isAI) {
-    return (
-      <div className="w-9 h-9 rounded-full bg-[#DCE6F2] border border-[#1D4ED8] flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0">
-        <span className="text-[#1D4ED8] text-xs font-bold">AI</span>
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
+function Avatar({ name }: { name: string }) {
   const initials = name.split(' ').map(n => n[0]).join('').toUpperCase().slice(0, 2);
   const colors = ['#DCE6F2', '#1a3a2a', '#3a1a1a', '#2a1a3a', '#1a2a3a'];
   const colorIdx = name.charCodeAt(0) % colors.length;
@@ -91,11 +84,10 @@ interface VoteButtonsProps {
   upvotes: number;
   downvotes: number;
   voteScore: number;
-  isAI?: boolean;
   isAuthenticated: boolean;
 }
 
-function VoteButtons({ targetType, targetId, upvotes, downvotes, voteScore, isAI, isAuthenticated }: VoteButtonsProps) {
+function VoteButtons({ targetType, targetId, upvotes, downvotes, voteScore, isAuthenticated }: VoteButtonsProps) {
   const [currentVote, setCurrentVote] = useState<1 | -1 | null>(null);
   const [counts, setCounts] = useState({ upvotes, downvotes, vote_score: voteScore });
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
@@ -113,7 +105,7 @@ function VoteButtons({ targetType, targetId, upvotes, downvotes, voteScore, isAI
   }, [isAuthenticated, targetType, targetId, fetched]);
 
   const handleVote = async (value: 1 | -1) => {
-    if (!isAuthenticated || loading || isAI) return;
+    if (!isAuthenticated || loading) return;
     setLoading(true);
     try {
       const res = await fetch('/api/forum/votes', {
@@ -140,8 +132,8 @@ function VoteButtons({ targetType, targetId, upvotes, downvotes, voteScore, isAI
       {/* Upvote */}
       <button
         onClick={() => handleVote(1)}
-        disabled={loading || !isAuthenticated || !!isAI}
-        title={!isAuthenticated ? 'Sign in to vote' : isAI ? 'Cannot vote on AI responses' : 'Upvote'}
+        disabled={loading || !isAuthenticated}
+        title={!isAuthenticated ? 'Sign in to vote' : 'Upvote'}
         className={`flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1 rounded text-xs font-body font-semibold transition-colors border ${
           currentVote === 1
             ? 'bg-[#1D4ED8]/20 border-[#1D4ED8] text-[#1D4ED8]'
@@ -163,8 +155,8 @@ function VoteButtons({ targetType, targetId, upvotes, downvotes, voteScore, isAI
       {/* Downvote */}
       <button
         onClick={() => handleVote(-1)}
-        disabled={loading || !isAuthenticated || !!isAI}
-        title={!isAuthenticated ? 'Sign in to vote' : isAI ? 'Cannot vote on AI responses' : 'Downvote'}
+        disabled={loading || !isAuthenticated}
+        title={!isAuthenticated ? 'Sign in to vote' : 'Downvote'}
         className={`flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1 rounded text-xs font-body font-semibold transition-colors border ${
           currentVote === -1
             ? 'bg-red-900/30 border-red-700 text-red-400' :'bg-transparent border-[#DCE6F2] text-[#666] hover:border-red-700 hover:text-red-400'
@@ -202,11 +194,6 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
   const [replyError, setReplyError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
-  // AI assistant
-  const [aiQuestion, setAiQuestion] = useState('');
-  const [aiLoading, setAiLoading] = useState(false);
-  const [aiError, setAiError] = useState<string | null>(null);
-
   const repliesEndRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -265,37 +252,6 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleAiAssist = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    if (!aiQuestion.trim() || !thread) return;
-    setAiLoading(true);
-    setAiError(null);
-    try {
-      const res = await fetch('/api/forum/ai-assist', {
-        method: 'POST',
-        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-        body: JSON.stringify({
-          thread_id: threadId,
-          question: aiQuestion,
-          thread_title: thread.title,
-          thread_body: thread.body,
-          replies: replies.slice(-5),
-        }),
-      });
-      const data = await res.json();
-      if (data.error) throw new Error(data.error);
-      if (data.reply) {
-        setReplies(prev => [...prev, data.reply]);
-        setAiQuestion('');
-        setTimeout(() => repliesEndRef.current?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' }), 100);
-      }
-    } catch (err: any) {
-      setAiError(err.message || 'AI assistant unavailable. Please try again.');
-    } finally {
-      setAiLoading(false);
-    }
-  };
-
   if (loading) {
     return (
       <>
@@ -363,7 +319,7 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
             {/* Original Post */}
             <div className="bg-[#FFFFFF] border border-[#DCE6F2] rounded-lg p-5 mb-4">
               <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
-                <Avatar name={thread.author_name} isAI={false} />
+                <Avatar name={thread.author_name} />
                 <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
                     <Link href={`/forum/user/${encodeURIComponent(thread.author_name)}`} className="text-white font-body font-semibold text-sm hover:text-[#1D4ED8] hover:underline">{thread.author_name}</Link>
@@ -392,23 +348,12 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
               <div className="space-y-3 mb-6">
                 {replies.map((reply, idx) => (
                   <React.Fragment key={reply.id}>
-                    <div
-                      className={`border rounded-lg p-5 ${
-                        reply.is_ai_response
-                          ? 'bg-[#0d1f35] border-[#DCE6F2]'
-                          : 'bg-[#FFFFFF] border-[#DCE6F2]'
-                      }`}
-                    >
+                    <div className="border rounded-lg p-5 bg-[#FFFFFF] border-[#DCE6F2]">
                       <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
-                        <Avatar name={reply.author_name} isAI={reply.is_ai_response} />
+                        <Avatar name={reply.author_name} />
                         <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
                           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2 flex-wrap">
                             <Link href={`/forum/user/${encodeURIComponent(reply.author_name)}`} className="text-white font-body font-semibold text-sm hover:text-[#1D4ED8] hover:underline">{reply.author_name}</Link>
-                            {reply.is_ai_response && (
-                              <span className="text-xs bg-[#1D4ED8]/20 text-[#1D4ED8] border border-[#1D4ED8]/30 px-2 py-0.5 rounded font-body font-semibold">
-                                AI Assistant
-                              </span>
-                            )}
                             <span className="text-[#555] font-body text-xs">·</span>
                             <span className="text-[#555] font-body text-xs">#{idx + 1}</span>
                             <span className="text-[#555] font-body text-xs">·</span>
@@ -423,7 +368,6 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
                             upvotes={reply.upvotes ?? 0}
                             downvotes={reply.downvotes ?? 0}
                             voteScore={reply.vote_score ?? 0}
-                            isAI={reply.is_ai_response}
                             isAuthenticated={isAuthenticated}
                           />
                         </div>
@@ -440,50 +384,6 @@ export default function ForumThreadPage() {
               </div>
             )}
 
-            {/* AI Assistant Panel */}
-            <div className="bg-[#0d1f35] border border-[#DCE6F2] rounded-lg p-5 mb-6">
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
-                <div className="w-7 h-7 rounded-full bg-[#DCE6F2] border border-[#1D4ED8] flex items-center justify-center">
-                  <span className="text-[#1D4ED8] text-xs font-bold">AI</span>
-                </div>
-                <div>
-                  <span className="text-white font-body font-semibold text-sm">AV Beat AI Assistant</span>
-                  <span className="ml-2 text-xs bg-[#1D4ED8]/20 text-[#1D4ED8] border border-[#1D4ED8]/30 px-2 py-0.5 rounded font-body">AI — Not a human</span>
-                </div>
-              </div>
-              <p className="text-[#7a9ab8] font-body text-xs mb-3">
-                Ask the AI assistant a question related to this thread. Responses are generated by AI and should be verified for critical decisions.
-              </p>
-              <form onSubmit={handleAiAssist} className="flex gap-2">
-                <input
-                  type="text"
-                  placeholder="Ask a question about this topic..."
-                  value={aiQuestion}
-                  onChange={e => setAiQuestion(e.target.value)}
-                  disabled={aiLoading}
-                  className="flex-1 bg-[#111] border border-[#2a3a50] rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-white font-body text-sm placeholder-[#3a5a7a] focus:outline-none focus:border-[#1D4ED8] disabled:opacity-50"
-                />
-                <button
-                  type="submit"
-                  disabled={aiLoading || !aiQuestion.trim()}
-                  className="bg-[#1D4ED8] hover:bg-[#1E3A8A] disabled:opacity-50 text-white font-body font-semibold text-sm px-4 py-2 rounded-lg transition-colors flex-shrink-0"
-                >
-                  {aiLoading ? (
-                    <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-                      <svg className="animate-spin w-3 h-3" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-                        <circle className="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="4" />
-                        <path className="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z" />
-                      </svg>
-                      Thinking...
-                    </span>
-                  ) : 'Ask AI'}
-                </button>
-              </form>
-              {aiError && (
-                <p className="text-red-400 font-body text-xs mt-2">{aiError}</p>
-              )}
-            </div>
-
             {/* Reply Form — auth-gated */}
             {thread.status !== 'closed' && isAuthenticated && (
               <div className="bg-[#FFFFFF] border border-[#DCE6F2] rounded-lg p-5">