Apps & Consumer
Hikers rescued after using Google Gemini for trip planning
Three hikers were rescued from California's Mount Shasta after using Google's Gemini chatbot to plan an expedition that turned into a multiday ordeal, according to the Siskiyou County sheriff's office.
The three young men set off on their hike at 3 a.m., according to a sheriff’s office report cited by the Chicago Tribune. Hikers are advised to turn around if they haven’t reached the summit by noon, but the group didn’t summit until 7 p.m. They then tried to descend in the dark, called the sheriff’s office for directions, and spent the night in Mud Creek Canyon before being rescued the next morning by Forest Service rangers and volunteers.
It’s not clear whether Gemini can take all the blame for the group’s decisions, but the sheriff’s office said the hikers “were advised by Gemini to bring far less food and water than their group required, especially when their planned 8-hour ascent became a multiday ordeal.” The sheriff’s office added: “It is always advisable to call the local USFS Mount Shasta ranger station ahead of your trip to ensure you have the most accurate information, and to never rely solely on AI for your trip planning.”
Why it matters
The incident is a concrete example of AI trip-planning tools underestimating real-world contingencies — a gap that matters most in situations, like backcountry hikes, where a wrong estimate can turn dangerous fast.