Saw this on reddit. NEVER use torque specs from Google's AI results. We're talking "wheels can come off and people could die" error here. Normal torque for lug nuts is almost never this low (normal is 80+ ft lbs depending on vehicle).
This is really criminal, Google.
@ethanschoonover google claimed the axle nuts on my bike should be torqued to 20-25 NM, rather than to the 40NM the manual specifies.
@dr_a I was looking up torque specs on a critical fastener on the undercarriage of my truck and google ai spat out some completely wrong nonsense last year. I knew to ignore it but I'm *sure* someone out there is using these incorrect values and driving around in a dangerous vehicle as a result.
@ethanschoonover i’m sure you’re right, which in this case is terrifying.
i used to have a job building freon recovery units. i wonder how many failed because some of the folks felt they didn’t need to use a torque wrench tightening down the gas tight fittings.
@dr_a outside of my powertools, the most expensive item in my toolbox is my torque wrench!
@ethanschoonover
Bad enough Google AI is so stupid it identifies my cat as a flying squirrel, but telling a diy mechanic wrong torque specs could definitely kill someone.
@ethanschoonover
It gave the oil plug torque, hence the Amsoil sponsored link. I guess AI doesn't know the difference between a lug nut and an oil plug
@VE7WYC yeah it's super sketchy. a shame that it's given top billing on the results page.
@VE7WYC @ethanschoonover But, but, we're only a year away from AGI!
@ethanschoonover AI isn't good at anything that requires opposable thumbs.
@ethanschoonover if it might help, there is a way to still use a de-enshittified google, but you have to add your own search engine in the browser (and firefox just hid the function, maybe because they are funded by google who knows?) and add &udm=14 to your request.
You'll land on the "web" tab of the google search engine which hasn't been enshittified by some bullsh$*t AI summary (yet)
@ethanschoonover@mastodon.social
reddit often fakes these for funny points
@m I’ve personally experienced the same torque specific search issue with Google ai (details in the thread)
@ethanschoonover You can always move to Europe for a safer life. Google's #AI overviews and some AI features in Apple and Meta products were not rolled out in #Europe because of "#regulatory concerns". It was perceived by some as a way of retaliating by curbing functionality, but it's actually an improvement ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Alternatively, you can support proposals to make it harder for these companies to push bad products to you and your neighbours. @eff could be a place to start researching.
@ethanschoonover oh, you found it on Reddit, so my message probably won't be of much use to you and belongs in the Reddit thread.
Google should be legally responsible for any AI overview. They aren't just pointing you to a website, they are making up information.
@ethanschoonover it is the same problem in foraging for wild plants and mushrooms: sometimes the AI suggestions are straight up dangerous
@ethanschoonover One of the first questions I asked ChatGPT was how to tow-start a rotary engine car. It told me to put the car on jack stands, take the wheels off and then tow it at 25 mph. So yeah, don't use for anything automotive.
@ethanschoonover
AI is irretrievably useless for most of the things it's being touted for.
Yesterday, I did a Google search on an Android phone for "when was infant formula invented"; the "AI overview" gave a date of 1867 and inventor Justus von Liebig, and the *very first* search hit was an NIH article that cites the SAME inventor with a date of 1865.
Today, a desktop Google search gives a different AI result.
Useless crap.
@ethanschoonover yikes that is scary. I've seen and had a few instances of the AI things hallucinating and just getting basic things incredibly wrong lately. Maybe because its trained to output what will most likely come next and has no concept of "incorrect". It doesn't actually know what's it's saying or have any idea if it is right or wrong. Mindless automaton level 1000.
@ethanschoonover I torque some *bicycle bolts* more than that
@ethanschoonover "Shimano Disc Brake Tightening torque:
6 - 8 N·m (53 - 69 in. lbs.)"