Pakistan's Incarcerated Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan Harnesses AI for Pre-election Address
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, astounds his supporters by employing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver an impassioned speech With an AI-generated voice clone, Khan campaigns for his party well in advance of the upcoming general election, defying the odds and inspiring his followers
Pakistan's embattled ex-Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has given an impassioned speech to his followers from prison, using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a voice clone that has enabled the imprisoned politician to advocate for his party in advance of an upcoming general election. Khan has been in custody since August following a corruption conviction. He is also charged with unauthorized release of classified documents, accusations that the former cricketer and current politician has consistently refuted, claiming they are designed to prevent him from competing in the national elections anticipated to take place in February.
Television stations have been prohibited by the country's media regulator from airing Khan's speeches following his recent arrest and the resulting deadly riots. Additionally, the government shut down the internet for three days in response to the unrest. Legal proceedings against Khan have been conducted in private, and no images of him in jail or in court have been shared with the public since his arrest in August.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party held an online rally on Sunday that lasted about seven hours, during which it released a roughly four-minute clip that used AI technology to mimic Khan's voice. The audio was overlayed with old footage and photographs of the country's former leader.
Former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan leaves after appearing at the high court in Lahore on March 17, 2023.
Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images
From cricket icon to jailed politician: The turbulent times of Imran Khan
A caption on the video reads: "AI voice of Imran Khan based on his notes for Jalsa (a rally) from jail."
"First and foremost, I want to commend my social media team for their groundbreaking efforts," the AI voice declared to my fellow Pakistanis. "You may be curious about my situation in prison... but my resolve for true freedom remains unwavering. Our party is prohibited from hosting public rallies, and our people are being abducted while families are facing harassment."
The video showed an AI voice imitating Khan, encouraging his followers to participate in the imminent general elections. Khan came to power in 2018 with a strong anti-corruption stance, which struck a chord with the younger generation in the country. Analysts suggest that the youth had felt disconnected from the political dynasties and military rule that have governed Pakistan for the majority of its history.
After four years in office, Khan faced accusations from opposition lawmakers of driving the country to the edge of economic collapse. In April 2022, he was removed from power through a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Following his ouster, Khan organized nationwide rallies that drew tens of thousands of protestors. These demonstrations became a prominent feature in Pakistan's politically unstable environment and solidified the former cricket captain as one of the country's most beloved leaders, leading to almost a year of occasionally violent protests.
The PTI's virtual rally on Sunday garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube and was watched live by tens of thousands on various social media platforms. According to NetBlocks, an internet watchdog, social media platforms in Pakistan were restricted for approximately seven hours during the event. The use of AI audio recording is being hailed as a demonstration of how politicians are leveraging AI technology in their fight against state suppression.
While Khan remains behind bars and is no longer the leader of the PTI, he remains the face of the party.
