AI-Generated Books Could Put Amateur Mushroom Pickers in Danger; Here's What Experts Say

Amateur mushroom pickers often rely on books to get tips for their hobbies. However, experts warned that newbie mushroomers should be careful when purchasing books online since they could actually be written by AIs.

Why Amateur Mushroom Pickers Should Avoid AI-Generated Books

AI-Generated Books Could Put Amateur Mushroom Pickers in Danger; Here's What Experts Say — This photograph taken on July 15, 2020, shows oyster mushrooms produced by the company Permafungi which recycles coffee grounds to grow organic mushrooms in Brussels. In Brussels, a young company set up as a model of the circular economy recycles coffee grounds to grow 100% organic oyster mushrooms in the heart of the city. JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

According to The Guardian's latest report, AI-generated books about mushroom picking are becoming more rampant on Amazon.

Originality.ai, an American AI content detection firm, examined some e-books that are sold on the Amazon online store.

These include "Wild Mushroom Cookbook: From Forest to Gourment Plate" and "The Supreme Mushrooms Books Field Guide of the South-West."

The U.S.-based AI checker discovered that all the e-books it examined had an AI detection score rating of 100%. This means that they are not written by humans.

The problem with this is that these e-books on Amazon are claimed to be written by real people. Since they are not written by professional mushroom pickers, there's a high chance that many of the tips they provide are incorrect.

AI-Generated Mushroom Picking Books Contain Incorrect Infos

Family Foraging Kitchen mycologist Leon Frey said that the books have serious flaws. One of these is that they claim that smell and taste are great identifying features when picking mushrooms.

"This seems to encourage tasting as a method of identification. This should absolutely not be the case," he warned.

Frey said that mushroom foragers need to choose books that are written by reputable people. Aside from him, Carleton University fungi expert Prof. Myron Smith also criticized the AI-written e-books.

Because of the incorrect tips they provide, Smith said that these AI-generated books are "totally irresponsible."

What is Mushroom Picking?

Mushroom picking is a popular hobby and leisure activity in the United States and other parts of the globe.

It is also called mushrooming, mushroom foraging, or mushroom hunting, as reported by The Conversation.

Experts said that this activity is associated with social activities, local cultures, or just finding food.

Since many mushrooms are very poisonous, newbie mushroom pickers are the ones most at risk when doing this activity.

Once they mistake a poisonous mushroom for an edible one, they can suffer from vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and other food poisoning symptoms.