UK maritime officials are warning holiday swimmers and coastal walkers not to depend on generative AI for tide times after two visitors to Sully Island, near Barry, were stranded when ChatGPT supplied the wrong schedule and a causeway flooded. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency urged the public to use official sources such as the UK Hydrographic Office and the Met Office, echoing Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s recent caution that AI systems remain prone to error. OpenAI said improving factual accuracy is a continuing focus, though mistakes still occur.
Experts said language models struggle to read structured tables like tide charts, raising the odds of misinterpretation. Organizers of longstanding festive swims in places such as Tenby stressed local knowledge and formal safety measures—lifeguards, marshals and medical support—over DIY planning driven by social media or AI. Mountain rescuers recounted aiding two hikers who used AI to plan an ascent of Cader Idris on a stormy day, noting that while technology can help in a pinch, it can’t replace experience or judgment. The broader message: Technology is useful, but critical decisions—especially those involving the sea and mountains—should be anchored in authoritative data and on-the-ground expertise.
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— Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Official information and updates
