This week, three hikers were rescued from Mount Shasta in California after they utilized Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, to plan their journey.
According to a report from the Siskiyou County sheriff’s department, the three young men began their hike at 3 a.m. Despite being advised to retreat if they had not reached the summit by noon, they reached the peak at 7 p.m.
Afterward, the group attempted to make their way down in the dark. They contacted the sheriff’s office for guidance and ended up spending the night in Mud Creek Canyon until they were rescued the following morning by Forest Service rangers and volunteers.
While the extent to which Gemini contributed to their poor decisions remains uncertain, the sheriff’s office noted that the hikers were “advised by Gemini to bring considerably less food and water than necessary, especially since their planned 8-hour climb turned into a multi-day challenge.”
The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of reaching out to the local USFS Mount Shasta ranger station ahead of a trip to obtain the most accurate information and cautioned against relying solely on AI for planning outdoor adventures.
