Imran Khan, the once-reigning prime minister of Pakistan, currently serves time behind bars, convicted of corruption charges. He's also alleged to have leaked confidential documents, accusations he's repeatedly dismissed as a ploy to keep him out of the nationwide elections, scheduled for February.
Khan was briefly detained in May, causing deadly riots that led to TV broadcast bans on his speeches and a three-day shutdown of the internet. Judicial proceedings against Khan have been held in secret since his August arrest, with no pictures of him released in the courtroom or prison.
Resilient as ever, Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, organized an online rally on December 17, 2024. They released a nearly 4-minute video, in which AI technology mimicked Khan's voice, layered over old footage and photos of the former leader.
The video's caption read, "Imran Khan's voice is based on notes he made for the Jalsa [a rally] while in prison."
"Firstly, I'd like to thank my social media team for this groundbreaking attempt," the AI-generated voice declared. "You might wonder how I'm doing in prison... My determination to fight for true freedom remains strong."
The voice continued, "Our political parties cannot hold public rallies... Our people are abducted, and their families are harassed."
The AI-voice urged supporters to vote in the upcoming election.
Khan's powerful political platform, promising to combat corruption, gained popularity among Pakistan's young crowd, who'd been disenchanted with the nation's political dynasty and military establishment that ruled for over seven decades.
Yet, critics charge Khan with plunging the country towards economic collapse during his stint as prime minister. He was ousted through a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and, despite opposition, triggered massive street protests until September 2023, further destabilizing the nation's political scene.
Khan's virtual rally drew over 1.4 million YouTube views and live-streamed audiences in the tens of thousands on other social media platforms. However, Pakistan's Internet Regulatory Authority reported that Social Media Platforms in the country were temporarily blocked during the virtual rally.
The use of AI-generated recordings highlights the increasingly innovative ways politicians employ technology to bypass suppression. As Khan continues his time in prison, he remains the face of his party.
(Sources: edition.cnn.com)
Enrichment data explains that Khan's AI-generated speech was the first event of its kind in Pakistan, using AI technology to circumvent restrictions against politicians during elections. The usage of AI in political communication highlights the evolving nature of political discourse and access to information.
