On August 4, 2025, what would have been Joaquin Oliver’s 25th birthday, former CNN anchor Jim Acosta released an interview unlike any he’s done before. Sitting across from him was not a living guest, but an AI-generated version of Oliver, one of the 17 people killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting. The AI likeness, created by Joaquin’s parents, Patricia and Manuel Oliver, was trained using his writings, social media posts, and recordings of his voice. On screen, the digital Joaquin spoke with moving lips and minimal facial gestures, realistic enough to be haunting. Manuel said, “This is a very legit Joaquin,” in a follow-up discussion with Acosta.
The AI Joaquin voiced support for stricter gun laws, mental health care, and community outreach. (VIDEO)
Manuel defended the project, saying it allows Joaquin’s voice to stay active in the fight for gun reform. The tragedy that claimed Joaquin’s life was perpetrated by a disturbed man who had a history of behavioral issues and had posted racist, antisemitic, xenophobic, sexist, and homophobic content online. The push for gun control has long connected the Olivers to the LGBTQ community. Gays Against Guns (G.A.G.) hosted a dance event at the NYC AIDS Memorial alongside the couple in 2023. Formed after the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre, which targeted LGBTQ people, Gays Against Guns blends activism and art to demand change. For critics, Acosta’s AI interview was “profoundly gross.” For the Olivers, it was another step in keeping Joaquin’s legacy—and the fight for gun control—alive.
