Hikers Rely on Google AI for Deadly Mountain Climb

Three novice hikers from Sacramento attempted to climb Mount Shasta's 14,179-foot peak using Google's Gemini AI chatbot for planning. Despite warnings not to attempt the trek past noon, they headed out late into the night and ended up having to descend in darkness due to heavy weather conditions.

The group suffered an injured knee and had to spend the night in an adjacent canyon before being rescued by US Forest Service rangers the next morning.

A statement from the sheriff's office emphasized that relying solely on AI for trip planning can be disastrous, especially when human experts are available. The incident is just one of several recent cases where hikers have followed AI instructions, leading to costly rescues and close calls.