Three hikers were rescued from California’s Mount Shasta this week after using Google’s AI chatbot Gemini to plan their expedition, the Chicago Tribune reported.
According to a Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office report, the three youths began their hike at 3 a.m. and reached the summit at 7 p.m., although hikers were told to turn back if they had not reached the summit by noon.
The three then attempted to descend in the dark, called the sheriff’s office for directions, spent the night in Mud Creek Canyon, and were rescued the next morning by Forest Service rangers and volunteers.
It’s not clear whether Mr. Gemini can take full responsibility for these poor decisions, but the sheriff’s office said the hikers were “advised by Mr. Gemini to bring far less food and water than the group would need, especially if the planned eight-hour climb turned into a multi-day ordeal.”
“We always recommend calling your local USFS Mount Shasta Ranger Station before your trip to ensure you have the most accurate information and to not rely solely on AI to plan your trip,” the sheriff’s office said.
