Former CNN host Jim Acosta conducted an interview with an artificial intelligence version of a student killed in a mass shooting. Joaquin Oliver was just 17 when he was killed at Parkland High School in Florida in 2018.
AI interview
The interview took place on Aug. 4, which would’ve been Oliver’s 25th birthday. Acosta posted the interview on his Substack.
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The interview featured a picture of Oliver with moving lips and other smaller gestures. It began with a discussion on curbing gun violence.
“I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support and community engagement,” the AI interpretation of Oliver said. “We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard.”
Following the conversation about gun law reform, the interview took a more casual tone with Acosta and the AI Oliver talking about movies and sports.
The entire interview lasted a little more than four minutes before Acosta brought in Oliver’s father, Manny, to discuss the AI version of his late son.
Parents’ decision
“I understand that this is AI,” Manny Oliver said. “I don’t want anyone to think that I am, in some way, trying to bring my son back. Sadly, I can’t, right? I wish I could. However, the technology is out there.”
Manny Oliver continued to say it’s a “very legit Joaquin.” He said the AI model of his son was built using things Joaquin had written and said over the years. He also said it’s been a comfort for him and his wife, Patricia, to hear their son’s voice again.
“Like any other mother, she loves to hear Joaquin saying, ‘I love you, mommy.’ And that’s important,” Manny Oliver said.
Manny Oliver said he will continue to post videos using the AI version of his son and build a following. Gun laws have been an important topic for Manny Oliver and his wife, with the former even being arrested during a congressional hearing on gun rights two years ago.
Manny Oliver said he plans to have the AI version of his son used during debates. “[He] was a wonderful person and I was one of the lucky ones to spend so many good moments with him,” Manny Oliver said.
Reaction to the interview
Following the release of the interview, the pushback came quickly for Acosta on social media. He turned off comments on X, but on Bluesky, most of the comments did not approve of this use of technology.
“This is unconscionable, ghoulish, and manipulative. How dehumanized do you have to be to think this was a good idea?” one user posted.
Straight Arrow News spoke with Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist and professor at UC Irvine.
“I don’t know about going quite so far as to have AI create your son who then gives speeches on a matter of public policy,” Loftus said. “It’s kind of a wild idea, but if this makes the parents feel better, should we not allow them to have that? That grief-reducing distraction?”
