this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2026
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Not The Onion

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[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 98 points 2 months 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 38 points 2 months 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 2 months ago

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

[–] whitecollarcry@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago

I knew it was gonna be idiots going somewhere they didn't verify, suggested by ai

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 53 points 2 months 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 2 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

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

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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 2 months ago (1 children)

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

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

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

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 20 points 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago

That’s a step I forget soooo often!

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

maybe the news story is from an AI too

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 1 points 2 months ago

It does feel like it, doesn’t it?

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

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

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 0 points 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago

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