PGHM Annecy: AI will not replace an IGN map
Commander Guy Le Nevé, head of the Peloton de gendarmerie de haute montagne (PGHM) in Annecy (Haute-Savoie), urged caution with generative AI when planning mountain routes. In Le Dauphiné Libéré on 12 October 2026 his stance is framed as: AI is “not a bad tool,” but “you will never do better than a good IGN map.”
Rescuers say Haute-Savoie has not yet had call-outs specifically for hikers who got into danger after following a bad AI-suggested itinerary. Le Nevé says it is “not yet a cause for concern,” even though turning to AI has become a reflex for many people.
The practical point is not blind trust in a chat suggestion: check the track on official maps (IGN), cross-check terrain, weather and local rules, and do not replace navigation prep with generated text.