Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has joined the election campaign from prison on Monday, all thanks to artificial intelligence. A voice clone of the opposition leader giving an impassioned speech on his behalf was released by his party. “Virtual rally”, the four-minute message, was hosted on the social media by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite internet disruptions.
The 71-year-old is currently detained in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi after being arrested in the leakage of the cipher (secret diplomatic cable) case. Khan has been behind the bars since August this year.
PTI said Khan had sent a shorthand script through lawyers that was fleshed out into his rhetorical style.
The text was then dubbed into an audio using an AI tool from ElevenLabs firm, which created a "voice clone" from existing speech samples.
"My fellow Pakistanis, I would first like to praise the social media team for this historic attempt,” the voice mimicking Khan said. “Maybe you all are wondering how I am doing in jail,” the stilted voice adds. “Today, my determination for real freedom is very strong,” said the message.
PTI supporters had shared his audio in major social media platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube. It was broadcasted at the end of the five-hour live-stream of speeches with still images of Khan. Also, a caption appeared at intervals flagging it as the "AI voice of Imran Khan based on his notes".
"We wanted to get in election mode...No PTI political rally is complete without Imran Khan," PTI social media chief Jibran Ilyas told AFP.
State censors had banned Khan for a brief period after his arrest in May this year.
The ‘virtual rally’ got over 4.5 million views across Facebook, X and YouTube. Pakistan elections is set to be held on February 8.
