The search for a missing Auburn student in Japan stretched into another anguished day on Thursday, as dozens of Japanese police officers waded through waist-high mud in a still-unsuccessful effort to locate the 20-year-old, who vanished a week earlier following an argument over artificial intelligence.

A Week of Searching

James “Weston” Higginbotham was last seen Friday at the Kyoto train station, and his disappearance has triggered a sweeping search involving police and local volunteers. His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said her son was last known to have entered the mountainous forest area near Yamashina, Kyoto.

By Thursday, the family marked the seventh day since he was last seen. In a Facebook post, Nancy described the toll of the effort, writing that it had been a long and stressful day during which officers combed through deep mud while search dogs and helicopters were also deployed.

She has been candid about the urgency of the situation. While the area contains water sources, she noted, food is scarce, making it critical to keep searching as quickly as possible. She has called on hikers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts to join the effort, while praising rescuers as incredibly thorough given the difficult conditions.

The Argument That Preceded His Disappearance

According to his mother, Higginbotham walked away from his parents during a family trip after a disagreement over ChatGPT. The detail has lent the story an especially poignant dimension.

A biosystems engineering major at Auburn University, Higginbotham is described as devoted to sustainable design and deeply uneasy about the world’s growing dependence on artificial intelligence. Nancy explained that the argument arose because she had been leaning on ChatGPT to help navigate the trip and find restaurants, something her son objected to.

She expressed regret over the conflict, calling it a dumb argument and saying the family tries never to use the tool and that she fully agrees with her son’s stance. It was, by her account, a small dispute that spiraled into something far larger than anyone could have anticipated.

A Portrait of a Gentle Young Man

Nancy described her son as emotionally distressed after the argument but emphasized that she does not believe he poses a danger to himself or to strangers. She painted a picture of a deeply gentle person, noting that he refuses even to step on spiders or insects, preferring instead to carry them outside.

She characterized him as a pacifist who tends to retreat into himself when upset rather than lash out. That temperament has shaped how the family understands his disappearance, framing it less as a crisis of intent than as a quiet withdrawal that has become dangerously prolonged.

Holding On to Hope

Despite the mounting strain, the family has voiced strong faith in the Japanese authorities leading the search. Nancy wrote that they have great confidence in the professionalism and dedication of those involved and do not believe any part of the search zone has been overlooked, describing the teams as meticulous.

She also clung to a measure of optimism about her son’s chances, observing that the area where they believe he went missing has ample water and at least some berries. There is still hope, she wrote, a sentiment that has carried the family through each difficult day.

As the search presses on through punishing terrain and unforgiving conditions, the Higginbothams continue to wait, buoyed by the dedication of rescuers and the belief that Weston may yet be found. This remains an ongoing situation, and details may continue to develop as the search effort unfolds.