An AI-generated avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, featured in an interview conducted by former CNN host Jim Acosta as part of a digital campaign for gun reform. The interview, released on what would have been Oliver's 25th birthday, was produced in collaboration with his parents and the advocacy group Change the Ref. Critics expressed discomfort regarding the ethics of creating AI representations of deceased individuals for media purposes, labeling the segment as 'unsettling.' While some sympathized with the parents' intent to honor their son’s memory, others criticized the method for potentially misrepresenting the deceased. Manuel Oliver, Joaquin's father, defended the project, emphasizing the aim was not to resurrect his son but to utilize available technology to raise awareness for gun reform. This initiative follows previous efforts where AI relayed messages from gun violence victims, which, although controversial, were seen as less invasive than simulating real-time conversations. Ethical concerns regarding AI recreations of the deceased have been highlighted, emphasizing the need for consent, transparency, and respectful uses of such technology.

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