Artificial intelligence facilitated the participation of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a political campaign, even while he remains incarcerated.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan is behind bars, and his party isn’t allowed to hold in-person rallies in the country ahead of elections in February. But that hasn’t stopped Khan from speaking to his supporters, with a little help from artificial intelligence https://t.co/9Oglp4OYps
— TIME (@TIME) December 19, 2023
A voice clone, generated through AI technology provided by ElevenLabs, was employed to deliver a four-minute message on Khan’s behalf during a virtual rally hosted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
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The AI voice mimicked Khan’s speech patterns based on a script sent through his lawyers. The message addressed Khan’s current situation in jail, and allegations against him, and urged supporters to participate in the upcoming general elections.
The virtual rally, shared on social media platforms, faced internet disruptions, and the AI-generated audio was accompanied by historic footage and genuine video clips of Khan.
Despite the success of reaching over 4.5 million viewers, opinions on the authenticity and effectiveness of the digitally delivered speech varied among the audience. While some criticized the AI-generated voice for its strangeness and lack of conviction, others praised the PTI’s innovative use of technology in political campaigning.
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The incident also raised concerns about potential violations of free speech and assembly, but authorities have yet to address these issues.