RALEIGH, N.C. — In the wake of yet another mass shooting in our country, relatives of those who have died in past shootings are calling for an end to gun violence.
What You Need To Know
The parents of a Parkland mass shooting victim use AI to send a message
The Shotline app uses AI to recreate the voices of loved ones killed by gun violence
162,000 calls have been made to lawmakers using The Shotline
Two parents of a child who died in the Parkland mass shooting were in Raleigh Thursday hoping to make a change. They were inspired to travel the country and share their story after their son was killed in the 2018 shooting.
It wasn’t so much about their message as it was about their son's and other victims of gun violence.
“I was a senior at Parkland. Many students and teachers were murdered on Valentine's Day that year by a person using an AR-15," said Joaquin Oliver's voice using AI.
Manuel Oliver listens to his son’s voice in a way he wishes he never had to.
“You don’t care, you never did. It’s been 6 years, and you’ve done nothing," Joaquin Oliver's voice said using AI.
With the help of artificial intelligence, Oliver’s late son Joaquin delivers a message to any lawmaker who's willing to listen.
“And I'm just gonna send it to one of my reps, send the call, and that phone is gonna... and that phone is ringing now," Manuel Oliver said.
That app is called The Shotline and it uses AI to recreate the voices of people who died as a result of gun violence.
The Thursday visit brought their project to N.C. State’s campus as part of a summer tour involving a school bus they purchased three years ago.
“It represents kids, the future," Manuel Oliver said.
But it's not just their story.
Six other families have shared their loved one’s voice for The Shotline.
Since the app launched earlier this year, about 162,000 calls have been made to lawmakers with the voices of victims on the other end.
“I made calls myself, thousands of calls, and I was ignored. So I decided, let's see if you're going to ignore the voice of my son," Manuel Oliver said.
The AI messages were produced in close partnership with the families of victims.
Yesterday's stop in Raleigh was the final stop in the Olivers' 15-city, 13-state tour.