Artificial intelligence has once again made its mark in the political realm, as Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, delivered a captivating speech to his supporters through AI technology. This groundbreaking development has the potential to significantly impact the upcoming elections, according to political analysts.
In a virtual event on social media, watched by over a million people, Khan’s voice, replicated by artificial intelligence, delivered a four-minute speech that he had written while in prison. While it is currently unclear if Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, violated any laws with this AI-generated speech, the party has confirmed its usage. It is worth noting that Khan’s public addresses have been heavily restricted in Pakistan, and his contact with the outside world has been severely limited since his imprisonment on a corruption charge in August.
Despite his legal challenges and inability to contest the Feb. 8 parliamentary polls, Khan’s popularity remains strong, as demonstrated by the buzz surrounding the use of AI on his voice. This also highlights the technological advancements of Khan’s political party compared to more established ones. Umayr Hassan, a Lahore-based computer engineer, remarked, “The use of artificial intelligence in Pakistan is something new, and even I was not expecting that the PTI could use it ahead of elections in an effort to mobilize supporters.”
While the use of AI undoubtedly presents an advantage for PTI, there are concerns regarding whether Imran Khan violated any laws by using this technology. According to Azim Chaudhry, an Islamabad-based political analyst, the law explicitly prohibits any criminal, directly or indirectly, from addressing rallies. Chaudhry also emphasized that the government’s response to the AI-generated audio remains uncertain.
In the audio, Khan’s replicated voice commended his supporters and social media followers, urging them to vote for PTI in the upcoming elections. The use of AI in this manner provides PTI with a significant boost, however, the legal implications could overshadow this advantage.
Artificial intelligence has once again demonstrated its potential to disrupt traditional political campaigning. As technology continues to advance, its role in shaping the political landscape is becoming increasingly prevalent. Whether the AI-generated speech by Imran Khan proves to be a game-changer or faces legal repercussions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the intersection of AI and politics is ever-evolving.
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