Hikers rescued after using Google Gemini for planning
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Three hikers were rescued from California's Mount Shasta after relying on Google's Gemini AI chatbot to plan their trip, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. The Siskiyou County sheriff's office stated that the men began their hike at 3 a.m. and, despite the rule to turn back if they hadn't reached the summit by noon, only arrived at the top at 7 p.m. Attempting to descend in the dark, they called the sheriff's office for directions and ended up spending the night in Mud Creek Canyon before being rescued the next morning by Forest Service rangers and volunteers. While it's unclear if Gemini was entirely to blame, the sheriff's office noted that the hikers were advised by the AI to bring far less food and water than needed, especially since their planned eight-hour ascent became a multiday ordeal. Officials advised contacting the local ranger station before trips and never relying solely on AI for planning.
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