Three hikers were rescued from a U.S. mountain after relying on Google Gemini to plan their expedition. They started the trail at 3 a.m., ignored guidance to turn back if they hadn't reached the summit by noon, and didn't arrive at the top until 7 p.m. When they attempted to descend in darkness, they became stranded in a canyon overnight before being rescued the following morning.
Authorities report that the chatbot recommended the group carry less food and water than necessary for the hike. While it remains unclear whether the AI was responsible for other decisions—like the extremely early start time or pushing past the safety turnaround deadline—the incident highlights real risks when treating AI recommendations as expert guidance without applying critical judgment.