This is actually a problem with non-AI generated mushroom books as well. Apparently publishers have been copying eachothers misinformation for a long time.
Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
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Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#12Do we believe this story? It's a Reddit "LegalAdvice" thread. It's not morel season in the UK right now; false morels are also March-May produce.
There have been quite a few articles corroborating the existence of books like this, the only part that needs believing is that someone actually used the books as advertised. https://www.vox.com/24141648/ai-ebook-grift-mushroom-foragin... https://fortune.com/2023/09/03/ai-written-mushroom-hunting-g...
Right, that's the only thing I'm questioning.
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#13This was something that was bound to happen and is going to happen again unless we get more serious regulation around AI publishing. > It lists the author as having a Masters Degree in Mycology from University of East Ontario. A search later revealed there is no "University of East Ontario." This has got to be criminal negligence.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander: the AI generated not only the contents but the author as well.
This has to be some kind of a new level of idiocy. I mean, use AI to make junk sci-fi stories, and generate fake authors all day. But going for a book about mushrooms deserves a special stupidity and evilness award.
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#14I’ve become suspicious of any book being published after 2022 as a result of AI-generated content. Wherever possible I opt to find an older edition or a book that covers a subject that’s pre-AI, and hopefully containing an errata to boot.
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#15Do we believe this story? It's a Reddit "LegalAdvice" thread. It's not morel season in the UK right now; false morels are also March-May produce.
I searched for the title of the book and nothing came up. When does searching for something NOT bring up amazon links?
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#16This is actually a problem with non-AI generated mushroom books as well. Apparently publishers have been copying eachothers misinformation for a long time.
Trap mushrooms
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#17This has got to be settlement-chasing,
directly akin to the people who throw themselves into stopped cars in Russia for insurance fraud purposes, only to be captured on dash-cam video and derisively immortalized on social media.
The other viable explanation is "but Google Maps told me to drive off the pier."
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
There have been quite a few articles corroborating the existence of books like this, the only part that needs believing is that someone actually used the books as advertised. https://www.vox.com/24141648/ai-ebook-grift-mushroom-foragin... https://fortune.com/2023/09/03/ai-written-mushroom-hunting-g...
Right, that's the only thing I'm questioning.
Even if you doubt this particular case (which I haven't seen any reason to do), it's inevitable that people will believe some of the things they read in legitimate looking books sold by major online retailers.
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#19I see this happen a lot on Tiktok and Facebook where influencers post about using different plants for food or for skincare. They often either show photos that are of a different plant that is dangerous to eat or they haven’t actually tried this and promoting the consumption of a plant that can poison people. It’s the Wild West out there on social networks.
Re: Family poisoned after using AI-generated mushroom identification book
#20This is actually a problem with non-AI generated mushroom books as well. Apparently publishers have been copying eachothers misinformation for a long time.
It is also a problem with accurate images and descriptions. Some mushrooms are very easily mistaken for others: unless you're 100% sure you've picked this very species before in around the same place and time, you'd better leave it there or bring it to a mycologist for identification.