Climbers in California had to be rescued after getting bad info from Gemini (www.techradar.com)

Three hikers in California were rescued from Mount Shasta after receiving misleading advice from Google's Gemini AI, which inaccurately predicted their ascent would take eight hours, leading them to underprepare for the trek. The group embarked on their climb at 3 AM, expecting to reach the summit by 11 AM, but faced significant delays and ended up stranded after 16 grueling hours. One hiker suffered a knee injury, and they ultimately had to call for help when their navigation tools failed and they lost their way in the dark. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of relying solely on AI for critical outdoor planning. The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office highlighted the importance of consulting local experts for accurate information and emphasized the need for climbers to be aware of turnaround times during excursions. As AI continues to penetrate various decision-making processes, this event underscores the necessity for users to combine AI-generated insights with human expertise and critical thinking, particularly in potentially hazardous situations.