'Absolute insanity': Ex-CNN host Jim Acosta 'interviews' AI recreation of teen killed in Parkland shooting

Former CNN host Jim Acosta was lambasted on social media Monday after publishing what he called a  "one of a kind interview" with the AI-generated version of a victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting. 

Acosta spoke with the recreation of Joaquin Oliver, who would have been celebrating his 25th birthday on Monday. Acosta said prior to the conversation with the computer program, "Joaquin Oliver died in the Parkland school shooting in Florida back in 2018, but his parents, Manuel and Patricia, have created an AI version of their son to deliver a powerful message on gun violence. Manny asked me if I’d like to be the first reporter to have the chance to interview Joaquin," who went by the nickname "Guac."

During the conversation with the AI recreation of the school shooting victim, Acosta asked, "I was wondering if you could tell me what happened to you?"

The recreation of Oliver responded, "I appreciate your curiosity. I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school. It’s important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone. What would you like to know more about?" As the recreation spoke, the photo of Oliver morphed to appear as though he was talking.

"Joaquin, I would like to know what your solution would be for gun violence," replied Acosta. 

"Great question. I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It’s about building a culture of kindness and understanding. What do you think about that?" The conversation then turned towards Oliver’s favorite things, including basketball, Lebron James, and Star Wars.

Speaking with Oliver’s father after the conversation, Acosta said he was "kind of speechless as to the technology there," saying that it "really felt like I was speaking with Joaquin. It’s just a beautiful thing."

Manny Oliver said his wife "will spend hours asking questions" and loves hearing Joaquin’s "voice" again. "She loves to hear Joaquin saying, 'I love you, Mommy.'" Manny Oliver said that the AI recreation of his son is "going to start uploading videos. This is just the beginning." He also said that "we will have Joaquin on stage in the middle of a debate," and that his "knowledge is unlimited. It’s based on knowledge that is out there through artificial intelligence, but also knowledge that we were able to upload based on things that he wrote, he said, he posted."

Social media users were quick to call out the interview, calling it "insane," "ghoulish," and "evil."

Reason Magazine senior editor Robby Soave wrote, "This is so insane and evil. It should never be done. I'm speechless."

"What on earth is this demonic madness? Acosta got fired from CNN, so now he’s 'interviewing' scripted AI chatbot holograms of dead people which are pre-programmed to agree with him. Absolute insanity," Federalist co-founder and CEO Sean Davis wrote.

Radio host Mark Davis wrote, "This is beyond gross. Concocting a conversation with a dead person is ghoulish, putting words in his mouth is opportunistic, and calling it an interview is fraudulent."

Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter Chuck Ross wrote, "This is the kind of journalism that Jim Acosta is doing without the guardrails of CNN."

Backlash was not confined to X. Versus Media Podcast host Stephen Miller noted that Acosta was receiving similar responses from users on Bluesky, who also expressed horror. 

Manny Oliver responded to the backlash, releasing a video and writing, "An AR-15 stole Joaquin’s life, not artificial intelligence. Instead of being infuriated at AI, you should be furious at the gun violence epidemic in the United States."