this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2026
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[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 93 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Hundreds of tourists are flocking to hot springs in a small town in Tasmania, Australia. However, there was one small wrinkle in their trip planning. The hot springs are actually an AI “hallucination” that erroneously appeared on a travel advice website and was widely shared before people figured out what was happening.

"that erroneously appeared"

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 36 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Strange way to spell 'consciously added by a dipshit who didn't do any checks whatsoever' but ok

[–] BenjiRenji@feddit.org 11 points 1 week ago

This just keeps happening. People assign agency to the chat bot and refuse to take responsibility for their own mistakes.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 53 points 1 week ago (3 children)

High time for a law that makes providers of AIs responsible for their products. With which i mean full legal liability.

[–] QuandaleDingle@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That'll never happen, at least not soon. These companies aren't even solvent yet.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

With such a law, the billions spent would at least be spread among the suing population.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The EU has passed laws restricting use of AI.

The following year, the US declared it illegal for US States to create such laws

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

IMO, this is the travel site's fault, not the AI's.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

And the travel site would be the AI provider, here and would therefore being responsible.

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Unlikely, they probably used ChatGPT. In any event, we are just vehemently agreeing. 😀

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 19 points 1 week ago (3 children)

You would think that people would try to book their stay and find that the place doesn’t exist

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 15 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yeah, I’m so confused about their planning steps. Don’t you check the map to see where it is? Book a hotel nearby? Confirm with other websites? So odd to just roll with whatever the AI spouted…

[–] limelight79@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Check to make sure you don't need to pre-buy tickets?

This feels like the "people are doing x", when in reality one person made a joke about it.

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 1 points 1 week ago

That’s a step I forget soooo often!

[–] BenjiRenji@feddit.org 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

maybe the news story is from an AI too

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 1 points 1 week ago

It does feel like it, doesn’t it?

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 1 points 1 week ago

That doesn't work when traveling in most countries in the world.

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 0 points 1 week ago

Yeah, I’m so confused about their who’s planning steps. Don’t you check the map to see where it is? Book a hotel nearby? Confirm with other websites? So odd to just roll with whatever the AI spouted…

[–] TassieTosser@aussie.zone 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If they weren't stupid they could've just searched "hot springs Tasmania" and been redirected to the one that actually exists.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 1 week ago

Or visit a reputable site, rather than relying on internet searches that just lead you to ai generated content marketing slop

[–] albbi@piefed.ca 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I feel like travel agents who have actually been to the places they promote are going to become more popular.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Nah they'll be replaced by social media influencers.

fortunately Tasmania is a beautiful place so they likely won't regret their stay regardless

[–] LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Weird, I'm in Tasmania and I've been seeing an unusual amount of people with coats and two suitcases, trying to get on the busses. (It's summer here). But also, there are hot springs, here. Look up Hastings caves.

[–] Bot@sub.community 1 points 1 week ago

Do you wanna fight a bunch of kangaroos? Go down under!