Imran Khan Uses AI Voice Clone to Campaign from Prison, Reaching 4.5 Million Supporters
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's AI voice clone enabled him to campaign from prison using a virtual rally, reaching over 4.5 million viewers, showcasing the power of technology in politics.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's artificial intelligence (AI) voice clone allowed him to campaign from prison on Monday, as he remains locked up on charges of leaking classified documents. The 71-year-old, who has been in custody since August, used AI to create a four-minute message that was broadcast during a virtual rally hosted on social media. Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party utilized AI to generate the speech, allowing the opposition leader to address supporters despite being behind bars.
Imran Khan deploys AI clone to campaign from behind bars in Pakistan
— Mariam's Madness (@MaddyWithKhan) December 18, 2023
PTI party uses ‘voice clone’ of imprisoned opposition leader to give impassioned speech in ‘virtual rally’.https://t.co/tBqLBILOBB
The AI tool, developed by ElevenLabs, created the voice clone based on existing speech samples and a shorthand script provided by Imran's lawyers. The virtual rally, which lasted for five hours, featured speeches from PTI supporters and included the AI-generated speech from Imran, overlaid with historic footage of the former cricket star. Despite attempts to censor Imran's message through internet disruptions, the virtual rally was viewed by over 4.5 million people across Facebook, X, and YouTube.
The use of AI technology in political campaigning has opened up new possibilities for politicians facing restrictions on traditional forms of communication. Imran's virtual rally, facilitated by AI, showcased the power of technology in overcoming political suppression and reaching a wide audience.
