Journalist under fire for controversial 'interview' with AI victim of school shooting

There's no denying that artificial intelligence can be used for good in terms of furthering the human race, whether it be streamlining processes, enhancing safety, or in terms of general innovation.

Still, there are plenty of concerns about where AI could take us, and whether it will mark the end of the human race. If not being a potential catalyst in launching World War III, there are fears about what AI's true intention will be when it reaches the realm of superintelligence, where it's 'smarter' than humans.

Even OpenAI's Sam Altman has grimly foreshadowed an AI-led future for his children, but before we get to this potential end of days, there are plenty of morally questionable actions that have AI critics shouting from the rooftops.

There's been a vocal backlash to the rise of AI in Hollywood, with voice actors and physical actors alike sharing their concerns. We've already seen a disturbing deepfake of Donald Trump sucking Elon Musk's toes, while there were recent reports that the upcoming Tron: Ares axed the idea of an AI assistant because Disney didn't want the 'bad publicity'.

Still, Elon Musk is pushing us toward a future seemingly inspired by Blade Runner 2049 where we can romance AI avatars. In the aftermath of a tragic tale where a teen took his life after supposedly falling in love with a chatbot, another grim AI story is doing the rounds.

Former CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta faces fury for interviewing an AI version of a school shooting victim. The truly bizarre story unfolds as Acosta undertakes the 'one of a kind interview’ with Joaquin Oliver. The tragedy is that Oliver was one of the 17 people who lost their lives in 2018's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

This AI version of Joaquin Oliver was captured by a real-life photograph and generated with AI. Acosta asks, "What happened to you?" with Oliver responding: "I appreciate your curiosity. I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence while at school."

Even though the Oliver avatar reminds us, "It’s important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone," the uncanny valley nature of this AI has caused uproar.

Although comments on Acosta's post were quickly locked, there are plenty of complaints over on X. One critic wrote: "What is the newsworthiness of uncritically 'interviewing' a computer algorithm wearing a dead child's skin as a puppet?"

Another added: "'Interviewing an AI version of a school shooting victim'. 2025 has spawned so many disgusting headlines yet this still manages to make me genuinely recoil from how grotesque and shameful it is."

A third unimpressed viewer concluded: "I don't know what's worse - using AI and interviewing it as if it is anything remotely human or the fact that stunts like this are thought to be needed because America is so indifferent when it comes to gun violence."