this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2026
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Not The Onion

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[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 72 points 4 days 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 25 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] BenjiRenji@feddit.org 6 points 3 days ago

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

[–] whitecollarcry@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 43 points 4 days ago (2 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 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

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

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days 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

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 16 points 4 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 11 points 4 days 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 3 days 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 3 days ago

That’s a step I forget soooo often!

[–] BenjiRenji@feddit.org 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

maybe the news story is from an AI too

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 1 points 3 days ago

It does feel like it, doesn’t it?

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe -1 points 4 days 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 4 points 3 days 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 3 days ago

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

[–] LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days 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.

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

[–] albbi@piefed.ca 2 points 3 days 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 3 days ago

Nah they'll be replaced by social media influencers.

[–] Bot@sub.community 1 points 3 days ago

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