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‘Life or Death:’ AI-Generated Mushroom Foraging Books Are All Over Amazon (www.404media.co)

submitted 2 years ago by trashhalo@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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Many mushroom identification and foraging books being sold on Amazon are likely generated by AI with no human authorship. These books could provide dangerous misinformation and potentially lead to deaths if people eat poisonous mushrooms based on the AI's inaccurate descriptions. Two New York mushroom societies have warned about the risks of AI-generated foraging guides. Experts note that safely identifying wild mushrooms requires careful research and experience that an AI system does not have. Amazon has since removed some books flagged as AI-generated, but more may exist. Detecting AI-generated books and authors can be difficult as the systems can fabricate author bios and images. Relying on multiple credible sources, as well as guidance from local foraging groups, is advised for safely pursuing mushroom foraging.

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[–] rayyyy@kbin.social 21 points 2 years ago (11 children)

This is my experience so don't rely on it: Most mushrooms won't kill you but some will make you so sick that you wished you died. Even a small bite of the deadly Destroying Angle will most likely not kill you. Only eat a very small amount of a new-to-you mushroom because even safe ones may trigger a fatal allergic reaction, also "safe" Morel mushrooms have killed people who really, really over consumed them.
Get a real "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms", book and download the "Seek" app for your phone. Find a person who experienced and go slow. NEVER get careless or over confident.

[–] fidodo@lemm.ee 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Most mushrooms won't kill you

That's not very reassuring

[–] liv@beehaw.org 12 points 2 years ago

I don't think it was meant to be reassuring. @rayyyy@kbin.social is right, don't mess around with fungi. You can get irreversible kidney damage.

[–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

Filtering by doing your research before ingesting one that should keep you from dying almost guaranteed.

In the US about 420 people die every year from salmonella poisoning usually incurred from food, often bought at the grocery store.

Meanwhile 3 people die from mushroom poisoning. And with a good book i'd say it is quite straightforward. My mushroom book provides an info for every specimen whether it has a poisonous look-alike and what specifics to look out for. If i am still uncertain, i just dont eat it.

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