Jim Acosta Defends AI Interview of Parkland Shooting Victim

Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta has been forced to defend his decision to host an interview with an AI avatar meant to mimic a 17-year-old victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

Acosta, who left CNN earlier this year to start The Jim Acosta Show, posted the video with the AI avatar to his Substack on Monday.

It shows him conversing with an avatar representing Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, who was one of the 17 victims of the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.

The independent journalist referred to the AI avatar as his “first guest” on the hour-long show, and said that Oliver’s parents created an “AI version” of their son in order to deliver a “powerful message on gun violence.”

During the five-minute conversation between Acosta and the AI version of Joaquin...