A.I leads Polish hikers astray
Let this be a warning!
Using artificial intelligence to help plan a bushwalk might sound like a smart idea to some people (not you lot, of course!), but unless you fancy an unexpected helicopter ride, it’s probably best not to let a chatbot make all the decisions.
Two hikers in Poland learned that lesson the hard way while heading to the Five Lakes Valley in the Tatra Mountains. Hoping to shave a little time off their walk, they asked ChatGPT to suggest a faster route.
Rather than sending them along a safe shortcut, it directed them onto the Świnicka Ławka traverse, a steep, exposed section that demands scrambling skills, a head for heights and experience in alpine terrain.
Unfortunately, the pair had none of those. They soon found themselves stranded, unable to continue and equally unable to turn back. With no safe way out, they called emergency services and were eventually airlifted to safety by helicopter.
Thankfully, neither hiker was injured, but the incident highlights an important point: artificial intelligence can be a useful planning tool, but it should never replace proper research, reliable maps and good judgement.
AI might process huge amounts of information, but it has no understanding of current track conditions, rapidly changing mountain weather, fallen trees, landslips or your own fitness and bushwalking experience.
Nor is this an isolated incident. In Canada, a couple following an AI-generated hiking route ended up in challenging backcountry terrain they were ill-equipped to tackle, prompting another rescue. Elsewhere, chatbots have even fabricated tourist attractions, including a supposedly sacred canyon in Peru that simply doesn’t exist.
There’s nothing wrong with using AI to gather ideas or inspiration before a trip, but when it comes to planning a bushwalk, treat it as just one source of information.
Cross-check its suggestions with official park information, topographic maps and trusted guidebooks. Your next adventure should end with great memories, not an expensive helicopter ride.
