Three hikers were rescued from California's Mount Shasta this week after relying on Google's AI chatbot Gemini for their trip planning, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. According to a statement from the Siskiyou County sheriff's office, the three young men began their ascent at 3 a.m. While standard guidance advises hikers to turn back if they haven't reached the summit by noon, they arrived at the top at 7 p.m. instead.

Attempting to descend in the dark, the group called the sheriff's office seeking directions and ultimately spent the night in Mud Creek Canyon. They were rescued the following morning by Forest Service rangers and volunteers. Although it's uncertain if Gemini alone is responsible for the hikers' choices, the sheriff's office noted that 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."

"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," the sheriff's office added.