BBC Verify sparks backlash with AI clone interview of school shooting victim
BBC Verify caught heat after airing an interview between journalist Jake Horton and an AI avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a teenager killed in a 2018 school shooting. This is one of the first known uses of an AI clone of a deceased person in an interview format.
The AI Joaquin spoke with Horton, prompting sharp criticism online and raising ethical alarms. Experts warn the move crosses sensitive lines. 
The program included a conversation with Joaquin’s father, who shared his perspective on the AI recreated version of his son. BBC Verify examined the complicated ethical issues this case brings up.
The piece was produced by Meiying Wu.
Jake Horton, BBC Verify:
“This is one of the first times that an AI avatar of a dead person has been used in this way.”
The interview has intensified discussions about AI boundaries, consent, and the impact on grieving families. Users and experts alike are questioning what’s next when AI starts reviving lost voices.
