A Chinese farmer reportedly learned a costly lesson about relying too heavily on artificial intelligence after following an AI assistant’s advice on pesticide and weed-control treatment — only to see around 25 acres of his crops severely damaged overnight.
According to local reports, the 67-year-old farmer from Chuzhou in Anhui Province had been using AI for about a year to seek advice on various agricultural matters, including crop care, fertilizer application and farm planning.
At first, the AI’s recommendations appeared to work, increasing the farmer’s confidence in the technology. Over time, however, he began following its suggestions without consulting agricultural experts.
The situation took a disastrous turn when the farmer asked the AI assistant how to deal with weeds and pests affecting his sesame crop.
He followed the recommended chemical treatment, but instead of protecting the crop, the application reportedly caused extensive damage. A large number of young sesame plants were destroyed.
Agricultural experts reportedly identified the herbicide flufenacet as a major factor in the damage, warning that if used incorrectly or under unsuitable conditions, it can harm sesame crops.
The incident has raised a broader question about the growing reliance on artificial intelligence in sensitive fields such as agriculture.
AI can provide useful information and suggestions, but it does not necessarily understand the specific conditions of a particular farm, including soil, weather, crop variety, dosage requirements and local agricultural regulations.
That is why experts recommend treating AI-generated advice as a starting point rather than a final decision — especially when chemicals, medicines or other potentially harmful products are involved.
The farmer’s experience is a powerful reminder:
AI can save time and provide valuable assistance, but one wrong recommendation can sometimes cost months of hard work and an entire harvest.
