In a world where politics and technology are becoming increasingly intertwined, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a bold step to stay connected with his constituents. He has used an AI-crafted voice clone to deliver a campaign speech from prison. This marked a significant milestone in using artificial intelligence in political campaigns. It is also the first event of its kind in the country, where an audio clip generated through AI was used to address a virtual rally.
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The Incident
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan utilized artificial intelligence (AI) technology to campaign from behind bars in a virtual rally organized by his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Despite being in jail since August and facing allegations of leaking classified documents, Khan’s voice clone delivered an impassioned speech on his behalf during the virtual event. This innovative use of AI has allowed Imran Khan to connect with his supporters.
The PTI employed AI technology to create a four-minute message from Imran Khan, using a voice clone that mimicked his distinctive rhetorical style. Khan provided a shorthand script through his lawyers, which was then transformed into his own linguistic patterns. The text was converted into audio using a tool developed by AI firm ElevenLabs. This tool can generate a “voice clone” from existing speech samples. The AI-generated voice clone delivered Khan’s message during the virtual rally, allowing him to address his supporters directly.
Virtual PTI Rally
Social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, hosted the virtual PTI rally. The AI-generated audio message from Imran Khan was broadcast at the end of a five-hour livestream featuring speeches by PTI supporters. The audio was accompanied by historical footage of Khan and still images, creating a comprehensive virtual rally experience. The opposition party accused the government of causing internet disruptions to prevent Khan’s supporters from watching his online speech.
NetBlocks, an internet tracking company, confirmed several outages in the live streaming of the speech, as reported by multiple users. Despite these challenges, the PTI said its virtual rally drew more than five million views on social media platforms.
Imran Khan’s Message
In his AI-generated speech, Imran Khan praised the PTI’s social media team for their efforts in organizing the historic PTI virtual rally. He expressed his determination for real freedom and highlighted the challenges faced by the party. This also includes the prohibition of public rallies and the alleged harassment of party members and their families. Khan urged his supporters to turn out in large numbers during the upcoming general elections. This emphasizes the importance of their participation in shaping the future of Pakistan.
Audience Reactions
The AI-powered speech received mixed reactions from the audience. This surprised and intrigued Khan’s supporters. Some individuals found it unconvincing, pointing out the stilted nature of the AI-generated voice and the unusual grammar. However, others praised the PTI for utilizing technology to connect with supporters, highlighting the party’s innovative approach to political campaigning. While the virtual rally provided an alternative platform for Khan’s message, many acknowledged that nothing can replace the impact of a real rally and a live speech.
Putin’s Interaction with AI Version of Himself
Khan’s speech is not the only recent example of a political leader using or interacting with AI technology. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin was questioned by an AI version of himself during a marathon news conference.
The AI version of Putinwas created by a Russian media outlet using deepfake technology. He asked Putin whether he had “a lot of doubles”, referring to a long-standing rumor that Putin uses body doubles for security reasons. Putin denied the rumor and joked that he had never met his AI counterpart before.
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Implications of AI in Voice Cloning and Politics
AI voice cloning technology, which uses deep learning algorithms to synthesize speech from audio samples, has advanced rapidly in recent years. Experts warn that AI voice cloning can create fake audio or video content, known as deepfakes, capable of deceiving or manipulating the public.
This incident highlights the growing sophistication of deepfake technology. Moreover, it raises broader concerns about the ethical and security challenges posed by AI in politics. The use of AI in politics is not new. However, the use of these technologies continues to advance at a rate for which we are wholly unprepared.
Fake voices in elections could be a big problem. For one, they can make it look like politicians said or did things they didn’t. This makes it hard to know what’s true and what’s not, which is super important for choosing our leaders.
World leaders need to figure out how to make sure information is real, control AI programs, and work together to protect elections from fakes.
Conclusion
Imran Khan’s use of AI voice clone technology to campaign from jail in a virtual PTI rally. This demonstrates the evolving role of technology in political communication. Despite being incarcerated, Khan was able to address his supporters directly and maintain his political presence through AI-generated speech. This innovative approach highlights the PTI’s commitment to leveraging social media and technology to engage with their audience. As AI technology continues to advance, its potential impact on political campaigns and public discourse remains a topic of interest and debate.
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