Chuzhou farmer follows AI pesticide advice, 10 hectares of sesame destroyed
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A 67-year-old farmer in Chuzhou, China, mixed and sprayed pesticides according to a herbicide and pest-control ratio given by a chatbot, causing all of more than 10 hectares of sesame crops to die. The farmer had used this AI for agricultural advice for over a year, with good results previously. This time, the AI did not explain that one of the chemicals in the formula could only be used on weeds, and only noted that "AI-generated text may contain errors, please verify."
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- Hacker News AIA farmer destroys 10 hectares of crops after following AI advice
A 67-year-old farmer in China's Chuzhou region lost more than 10 hectares of sesame crops after following a chatbot's recommendation to spray a mixture of chemicals for weed and pest control, which killed the plants along with the weeds. The AI had not specified that one product should be applied only to the weeds, and the farmer did not consult a technician or verify the advice despite a warning that AI-generated text may contain errors.
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