A 57-year-old man in Ningbo, China, found himself stranded in a mountainous area after following route advice from an AI application while attempting to find an alternative path down a hiking trail.
The incident happened on Aug 30 in a mountainous area of Yinzhou District, Ningbo. The man, identified as Yang, had reached the summit before deciding to take a different route downhill instead of returning via the established trail.
He initially followed a stream, but the route gradually became increasingly difficult to navigate. With the terrain becoming more challenging, Yang turned to an AI application for advice on how to get down the mountain.
According to the report, the AI advised him against continuing along the stream and suggested climbing towards higher ground. Trusting the recommendation, Yang followed the directions and continued through dense vegetation and steep, slippery terrain.
After repeatedly moving up and down the mountain, Yang eventually became exhausted and completely lost his bearings. With no clear route ahead, he was forced to call for help.
Firefighters responded after receiving the emergency call and initially used the location shared by Yang to begin their search. However, when they reached the marked location, there was no sign of him. Yang’s phone was also continuously engaged, making it difficult for rescuers to contact him.
The rescue team eventually managed to establish contact and activated real-time location sharing. Based on Yang’s description of where he had entered the mountain, firefighters adjusted their search direction while calling out to him as they moved through the area.
Their efforts soon paid off when Yang heard the firefighters and responded to their calls. The rescue team followed his voice, located him and safely escorted him down the mountain.
Yang, who has worked in Ningbo for several years, is reportedly fond of outdoor activities and considered himself physically fit. The incident has nevertheless highlighted the risks of relying solely on AI-generated directions in unfamiliar natural terrain.
Firefighters urged hikers not to depend entirely on AI when navigating mountainous areas, as suggested routes may not accurately reflect actual conditions on the ground. They also advised visitors to stick to established and properly maintained hiking trails rather than attempting unfamiliar routes, particularly when descending.
