Allgaeu: mountain rescue says two hikers who let ChatGPT plan a route up the Schmalhorn got lost off-trail and were flown out by helicopter
In late August 2025 two hikers climbing the Schmalhorn (1,953 m) in the Allgaeu Alps south of Oberstdorf, Germany, followed a route that ChatGPT had planned for them, according to the Bergwacht Oberstdorf mountain rescue service speaking to the Allgaeuer Zeitung. Instead of the usual marked ascent from Einoedsbach, the route started from the Spielmannsau, where, the rescue service said, there is no regular path, only an old hunters' track across several gullies. The two lost their orientation in that terrain and called for help about 100 metres below the summit. Rescuers climbed up to them; one had had a panic attack from the stress. Both were uninjured and were flown down to the valley by helicopter. The rescue service warned against using AI to plan mountain routes.
AI involvement reported · Causal attribution supported · 4 sources, 1 underlying account · Added 27/10/2026