AI Sent Tourists to a Non-Existent Resort

In Australia, a travel company's neural network ‘invented’ a resort — and people went there. The algorithm generated ads for ‘hot springs’ in the town of Weldborough, Tasmania, added beautiful descriptions and pictures, and even included the place in a list of top destinations for 2026.

On site, tourists were greeted not by a spa resort, but by an icy river and the complete absence of the promised springs. The company acknowledged an AI glitch and lack of content verification. While the brand faces criticism, the small town unexpectedly received an influx of visitors. Experts call this an ‘AI hallucination’ — when it confidently lies, and people believe.