Imran Khan uses AI-crafted speech to call for votes
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, employed an artificial intelligence (AI)-crafted audio message to communicate with his supporters, marking a unique occurrence in the political landscape of South Asia.
During an internet rally organized by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, an audio clip of Khan's speech played alongside a photograph of him, attracting over 1.4 million views on YouTube and witnessed live by tens of thousands on various social media platforms.
Highlighting the restrictions imposed on his party, Khan expressed, 'Our party is not permitted to conduct public rallies,' while encouraging his supporters to participate in large numbers during the upcoming general elections scheduled for Feb 8. He further lamented, 'Our people are facing abductions, and their families are subjected to harassment.'
The interruptions in the livestreaming raised concerns about the transparency of the impending elections. Users across the nation reported instances of slow internet speeds and deliberate throttling—a method employed by telecom regulators to restrict streaming on applications.
Officials from Khan's party revealed that the speech had been generated from a written version that received approval from Khan while he remains imprisoned. The party opted for this method due to a government-backed crackdown on physical gatherings, compounded by the media blackout imposed on their leader.
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