|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
AI-Generated Imran Khan Speech- Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has employed an artificial intelligence voice clone of him to conduct a virtual campaign from his prison cell. Although Mr. Khan’s three-year corruption sentence remains suspended, he is still incarcerated.
The PTI utilized AI technology to create a four-minute audio clip, derived from text Mr. Khan wrote in prison and approved by his legal team, for an internet “virtual rally.” The speech, addressing supporters and urging large turnouts for the upcoming general elections on 8 February, was accompanied by an AI-generated image that appeared to be speaking.
In his AI-generated message, Mr. Khan praised the social media team and expressed determination for “real freedom.” He highlighted restrictions on public rallies and alleged instances of supporters being kidnapped and harassed, urging increased voter participation.
Transparency concerns surround the elections due to disruptions in livestreaming, with internet users reporting slow speeds and throttling. PTI’s media adviser, Zulfiqar Bukhari, accused the interim government of deliberately slowing down the internet to limit the online political rally’s outreach.
Imran Khan, a former international cricket star, received a three-year jail sentence on 5 August for not declaring money earned from selling gifts received during his 2018-2022 tenure as prime minister. The conviction barred him from contesting elections for five years. Mr. Khan contends that the charges against him, including leaking state secrets and organizing violent protests, are politically motivated, a claim authorities have denied.