AI

While I find AI amazing and incredibly useful it can also be treacherously dangerous. I think it’s basic common sense to cross-reference any and every source of information but AI needs especially close inspection. Here’s what it had to say about this photo:

Me: Why do greater burdock plants trap hoverflies?

AI: Greater burdock plants do not trap hoverflies. Instead, they use their hooked seed heads to help disperse their seeds by attaching themselves to the fur of passing animals, including insects like hoverflies. This unique mechanism allows the seeds to be transported to new locations, aiding in the plant's dispersal and growth.

Me: Why do I see dead hoverflies "stuck" to greater burdock plants?

AI: It is possible that the dead hoverflies you see are not actually "stuck" to the plant, but rather have been caught in the sticky substance produced by the plant's flowers, known as nectar. The nectar of the greater burdock plant contains a sticky substance that can trap and kill insects, including hoverflies. This is a defense mechanism used by the plant to protect itself from herbivores.

It reminds me of early Sat Nav and why those who simply trusted it could end up driving to their deaths. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

(Better large)