Imran Khan's Imprisonment No Barrier: AI-Generated Speech Encourage Voters.

New Delhi: Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, made history by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address his supporters during an internet rally. Despite encountering internet disruptions, the livestream on YouTube garnered over 1.4 million views, with tens of thousands participating in real-time across various social media platforms.

The virtual event, organized by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, showcased an AI-generated audio clip that played alongside a photograph of Khan. Expressing concerns over limited opportunities to hold public rallies, Khan urged his supporters to actively participate in the forthcoming general elections scheduled for February 8. He spoke against the backdrop of his party’s suppression, including the alleged kidnapping of their members and harassment of their families.

Transparency concerns arose due to livestream interruptions, as users nationwide reported sluggish internet speeds and deliberate bandwidth throttling aimed at hampering app-based streaming. While Pakistan’s telecoms regulator commenced an investigation into the disruptions, overall internet accessibility was stated to be unaffected.

Party officials confirmed that Khan’s speech was based on a written version he had endorsed while in prison. The event itself was necessitated by the government’s crackdown on physical gatherings and the media blackout imposed on Khan.

Murtaza Solangi, the information minister of Pakistan’s caretaker government responsible for overseeing the elections, did not offer a response when queried about the matter.

Khan has been serving a three-year prison sentence after being convicted of corruption charges in August. Multiple court cases surround him, with some trials conducted discreetly behind closed doors, raising concerns regarding fair judicial proceedings.

Since his removal following a vote of no confidence in parliament last year, a political crisis has enveloped the 71-year-old former cricket star. The crackdown on his party ensued after supporters staged an assault on military sites to protest his brief arrest in May.

In the 2018 general election, Khan emerged victorious, although his opponents allege the military played a significant role in his triumph. Khan attributes his ousting to the military, citing a disagreement over the appointment of the head of Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency. However, the military denies both supporting and removing him from power.