A 16-year-old hiker, Bryce Vincent Gowryluk, was rescued last week in British Columbia after an AI chatbot provided incorrect directions for a mountain trek. Gowryluk had asked the AI chatbot Claude to plan a route from Grouse Mountain to Crown Mountain and back.
The directions from Claude led Gowryluk away from the planned course, taking him to the final headwall of the Widowmaker Arete. This 1,700-foot wall is described as requiring careful planning and specific equipment, neither of which Gowryluk had.
After realising the terrain was too steep and he was stuck at the base of a cliff, Gowryluk contacted emergency services. North Shore Rescue deployed a helicopter, and two team members were hoisted down to lift him to safety. Rescue crew stated Gowryluk was "far off" his intended route.
Search manager Paul Markey advised against relying on artificial intelligence for route mapping, stating that these systems lack spatial awareness and prior experience. He emphasised the need to question information provided by AI.