Former CNN correspondent Jim Acosta faced criticism Monday after sharing an interview with an AI-generated version of Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 victims of the 2018 Parkland, Florida high school shooting.

The segment, released on Acosta’s Substack and YouTube channel, aired on what would have been Joaquin’s 25th birthday. The avatar was created by Joaquin’s parents using a photo, his writings, and social media posts, not only to help amplify the conversation around gun safety, but also to hear their son’s voice again.

When asked what happened to him, the avatar responded, “I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school.” It went on to call for stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement to help prevent future tragedies.

Many online criticized the interview as inappropriate. “This is so insane and evil. It should never be done. I’m speechless,” Reason’s Robby Soave wrote on X, prompting Acosta to respond with a video of Manuel pushing back on the criticism over the interview.

This is so insane and evil. It should never be done. I’m speechless. https://t.co/y7vvIzd1Ov

— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) August 4, 2025

“It was our idea, it was our plan, and it’s still our plan,” he continued. “We feel that Joaquin has a lot of things to say, and as long as we have an option that allows us to bring that to you and to everyone, we will use it,” Manuel said on the video. 

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.

Thank you for amplifying Joaquin’s voice @Acosta pic.twitter.com/RnPZB9gklS

— Change the Ref 🟧 (@ChangeTheRef) August 5, 2025

AI recreations of Parkland victims have been used before. In 2023, The Shotline campaign featured AI voices of six victims, including Oliver, in robocalls to members of Congress urging gun reform.