Pete Bouchard criticized for SpaceX AI splashdown comments

NBC10 Boston's chief meteorologist, Pete Bouchard, has sparked controversy over comments he made regarding a recent SpaceX splashdown. The splashdown marked the return of NASA astronauts after nine months in space. Bouchard claimed that the footage of the event showed "strong hints of AI enhancement." His comments came after he noticed dolphins surfacing near the spacecraft during the splashdown. He initially posted the thought on social media but faced backlash and deleted his first post. Bouchard later clarified his remarks, saying he was commenting on how visually appealing the footage looked. He acknowledged that the lighting appeared cinematic and questioned the camera technology used to capture the scene. Many users criticized Bouchard's statements. Some pointed out that his remarks seemed conspiratorial, while others insisted the dolphins were definitely real. Bouchard responded that while the dolphins might not be artificially created, the footage and parachutes had a polished appearance. He reiterated that the splashdown did happen but suggested the video might have been enhanced. Bouchard is known for a previous viral moment while at WHDH, regarding snowfall totals. The NASA astronauts who returned from space included Suni Williams, a native of Needham.