diff --git a/server/ai/app.js b/server/ai/app.js
index d8b9035..ea911fc 100644
--- a/server/ai/app.js
+++ b/server/ai/app.js
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ const tryBuild = () => {
 };
 
 let sleeping = false;
+let paused = false;
+
 const sleep = async (delay) => {
   if (sleeping) {
     return;
@@ -773,6 +775,39 @@ const message = async (data) => {
   case 'game-update':
     /* Keep game updated with the latest information */
     Object.assign(game, data.update);
+    if (data.update.chat) {
+      let newState = paused;
+      const rePause = new RegExp(`${name}: pause`, 'i');
+      const reUnpause = new RegExp(`${name}: unpause`, 'i');
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < data.update.chat.length; i++) {
+        if (data.update.chat[i].message.match(rePause)) {
+          newState = true;
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        if (data.update.chat[i].message.match(reUnpause)) {
+          newState = false;
+          continue;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (newState !== paused) {
+        paused = newState;
+        send({
+          type: 'chat',
+          message: `Robot AI is now ${paused ? '' : 'un'}paused.`
+        });
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (paused) {
+      if (waitingFor) {
+        Object.assign(received, data.update);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (sleeping) {
       if (waitingFor) {
         Object.assign(received, data.update);