Tourists traveled to Australia for its famous hot springs. There was just one problem – they didn’t exist

https://lite.cnn.com/2026/01/31/travel/travel-news-nuns-great-escape-ai-advice

172 points · 25 comments · view on lemmy.world

25 Comments

kamenlady@lemmy.world · 98 pts · 232d (3 replies)

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 pts · 232d (1 reply)

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

BenjiRenji@feddit.org · 11 pts · 232d

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

whitecollarcry@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 232d
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Treczoks@lemmy.world · 53 pts · 232d (6 replies)

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 pts · 232d (1 reply)

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

Treczoks@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 231d

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

quick_snail@feddit.nl · 3 pts · 231d

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 pts · 227d (2 replies)

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

Treczoks@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 227d (1 reply)

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

Fmstrat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 226d

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

Rolder@reddthat.com · 20 pts · 232d (7 replies)

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

Eq0@literature.cafe · 15 pts · 232d (4 replies)

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 pts · 232d (1 reply)

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 pts · 232d

That’s a step I forget soooo often!

BenjiRenji@feddit.org · 2 pts · 232d (1 reply)

maybe the news story is from an AI too

Eq0@literature.cafe · 1 pts · 231d

It does feel like it, doesn’t it?

quick_snail@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 231d

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

Eq0@literature.cafe · 0 pts · 232d

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 pts · 232d (1 reply)

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 pts · 231d

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 pts · 232d (1 reply)

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 pts · 232d

Nah they'll be replaced by social media influencers.

renzhexiangjiao@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 232d

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

LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 231d

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 pts · 232d

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