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AI Creates Fake Hot Springs, Sends Tourists Astray
29 Jan
Summary
- An AI-generated post sent tourists to non-existent hot springs.
- Weldborough, Tasmania, received confused visitors seeking the fake attraction.
- The tour company owner blamed a third-party contractor for the AI error.
An AI-generated article on the Tasmania Tours website, owned by Australian Tours and Cruises, fabricated the existence of "Weldborough Hot Springs." This fictional attraction was described as a "peaceful escape" and a mineral-rich oasis.
Tourists who followed the AI's recommendation found that no such hot springs existed in Weldborough, a small rural town in Tasmania. Local businesses, such as the Weldborough Hotel, began receiving numerous inquiries and visitors searching for the non-existent springs.
The owner of Australian Tours and Cruises attributed the error to a third-party contractor, stating the AI "messed up completely." He explained that the company was attempting to refresh its website content but acknowledged that some AI-generated posts were published prematurely.
The company has expressed that the AI-generated post and the resulting negative attention have been "soul-destroying." AI researchers refer to such fabricated yet coherent information as "hallucinations."
