Two hikers lost in French Pyrenees after following ChatGPT-generated map
Two hikers became lost in the French Pyrenees after following a map generated by ChatGPT that contained significant geographical inaccuracies. A mountain park professional found them exhausted and reported that approximately 30 people had become lost in the same area that summer due to AI-generated maps with incorrect information.
What happened
On 23 July 2026, two young women used ChatGPT to generate a map for a hiking route in the Pyrenees near Cauterets. At around 20:00, a mountain professional from the Parc National des Pyrénées found them exhausted and confused, unable to locate Lac d'Estom.
The professional identified multiple errors in the ChatGPT-generated map, including placing Lac de Gaube incorrectly and estimating a route between two mountain refuges at less than two hours when it actually takes more than 10 hours. The two women were in the wrong valley.
Reported impact
The two hikers were found exhausted and worried after becoming lost while following the map. A mountain professional noted that approximately 30 people had been lost in the same Pyrenees sector since the beginning of summer due to inaccurate AI-generated maps.
The professional warned that if either hiker had suffered an injury such as a broken ankle and called for rescue, providing an incorrect location based on the faulty map could have hampered emergency response efforts.
Index analysis
ChatGPT generated a map with substantial spatial and temporal inaccuracies, including misplaced landmarks and severely underestimated travel times. The generated map appeared visually plausible enough that the hikers trusted it despite not being geographically accurate.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.