Teenager stuck on cliff after using AI to plan route

According to People, last weekend, the non-profit rescue organization North Shore Rescue received news that Gowryluk was stuck on Crown Cliff, British Columbia province. "The climber somehow strayed from the Crown climbing route and got stuck on the 'Widowmaker' route, which is located right at the base of the steep cliff at the end," the rescue team said.

North Shore Rescue used a helicopter, but was still unable to get the rescue team to Gowryluk's exact location. Instead, the staff had to land above and then use a safety rope to climb down and rescue the teenager in distress.

Paul Markey, manager at North Shore Rescue, shared with North Shore News, Gowryluk uses AI chatbot Claude to help plan routes. However, the chatbot suggested a particularly difficult route, leaving the boy stranded.

Still, Gowryluk told the New York Times he didn't blame Claude for the incident, noting that he also used Google Maps and a number of other tools to plan his route. Gowryluk admitted that straying into the Widowmaker Arete area was his own mistake. He continued moving forward until he realized he was stuck on a steep cliff and called the police. Police quickly contacted North Shore Rescue to conduct a rescue.

Anthropic, the developer of AI chatbot Claude, has not responded to the incident.

Gowryluk's incident raises concerns about people's increasing reliance on digital maps and AI to navigate the wilderness. According to the Guardian, in July, three people were rescued after planning to follow the Howe Sound Crest Trail, British Columbia province, using Google Maps. The app gave seriously inaccurate time estimates, claiming it would take just over five hours to complete a route that usually takes up to 14 hours.

Meanwhile, Markey warns climbers not to rely on AI to plan routes. "Claude had never been to that area, had never traveled that route, and had never been outdoors," Markey told CTV News. "Find out for yourself, equip yourself with knowledge about that area, and practice your skills and orientation."