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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

AI mushroom apps misidentify toxic fungi, foragers warn

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Foragers and experts express concern over the inaccuracy of AI-powered mushroom identification apps.
  • A recent study found that the top-performing app misidentified mushrooms in nearly 15% of cases, with others being far less reliable.
  • Experts advise amateur foragers to seek hands-on guidance from experienced pickers rather than relying solely on digital tools.

Searching for wild mushrooms is a cherished tradition, but the rise of digital identification tools is raising alarms among experienced foragers and experts. Robbie Robinson, a professional forager with over 40 years of experience, highlights the unique nutritional value and seasonal variations found in wild mushrooms, which are often harvested from pine plantations and state forests.

You get seasonal variation every year.

— Robbie RobinsonRobbie Robinson, a professional forager with over 40 years of experience, discusses the natural variations in wild mushrooms.

While popular edible varieties like saffron milk caps and slippery jacks are sought after, the presence of toxic mushrooms, such as the notorious death cap, poses a life-threatening risk. NSW Health advises against foraging due to these dangers, yet a range of digital tools have emerged to assist amateur foragers.

You go out and harvest what you know is edible, and it's not going around trying to match the picture from the phone with what you're looking at in the fields.

— Diego BonettoDiego Bonetto, a foraging educator, expresses concern about people relying on phone apps to identify mushrooms.

However, a study published in NPJ Science of Food revealed significant inaccuracies in these AI-mediated identification apps. The best-performing app failed to correctly identify mushrooms in almost 15% of instances, and other tools were even less reliable, with one providing incorrect information in over 90% of tests. Diego Bonetto, a foraging educator with over two decades of experience, acknowledges the growing interest in wild produce but voices concern over the increasing reliance on mobile phones for identification. He stresses the importance of hands-on learning with experienced pickers, warning against the "assumption of knowledge" that digital tools can foster.

So go out with someone, at least for the first and second time, to know what to do.

— Diego BonettoDiego Bonetto advises amateur foragers on the best way to learn about identifying edible mushrooms.

Bonetto emphasizes that mushroom foraging requires genuine knowledge, best acquired through direct experience. He urges amateurs to learn from seasoned foragers, stating, "Mushroom foraging, like anything else, needs to be done in knowledge." The wild mushroom season in New South Wales runs through late autumn and early winter, a period when the risks associated with misidentification are particularly high.

Mushroom foraging, like anything else, needs to be done in knowledge.

— Diego BonettoDiego Bonetto emphasizes the need for proper knowledge and experience in mushroom foraging.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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