James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old engineering student from Auburn University, has been missing in Japan since May 29. His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared with CBS News their last interactions before his disappearance. The two had an argument over her use of ChatGPT during their vacation. Nancy mentioned that the tool was a point of contention. She relied on it for navigation, which did not sit well with Weston due to his concerns over AI’s environmental impact.

On the day of his disappearance, Weston chose to stay at their lodging while his family visited a temple in Kyoto. That evening, Weston’s parents noticed a change in his location on a tracking app. They attempted to contact him, but received no response. Eyewitnesses last saw Weston at the Yamashina train station in Kyoto. His family suspects he planned to hike on a nearby trail, given his enthusiasm for the activity.

Nancy Higginbotham expressed her concerns about his safety. She fears that he could be injured, lost, or lacking adequate food, although the area is rich in water sources. The dense forest and expansive mountains present significant search challenges.

“My fear is that he doesn’t have enough food because there is plenty of water… it’s extremely dense,” Nancy Higginbotham voiced.

Local police conducted a comprehensive search for three days, involving over 100 officers, K9 units, and helicopters. Unfortunately, these efforts did not yield results, and the search was concluded. However, the family remains determined. They have hired a professional search and rescue team in Japan, facing expenses over $100,000. The family is adamant about staying until Weston is found.

Keith Higginbotham, Weston’s father, stated, “We have complete confidence that we are going to find him.”