AI-generated PTI video has Imran Khan claiming victory in elections
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An AI-generated video released Saturday by the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has him claiming victory in the country's general elections.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defied a months-long crackdown that crippled campaigning and forced candidates to run as independents in Thursday's vote, but their showing stunned observers.
A slow counting process showed independents had won at least 99 seats -- 88 of them loyal to Imran Khan -- by Saturday morning.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took 71 and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) snapped up 53 -- with minor parties taking the rest and 15 of the elected 266-seat National Assembly still to be announced.
"I congratulate you all on winning the 2024 elections. I strongly believed in you all, that you would go out to vote," Imran Khan is credited as saying in the AI video shared early Saturday on his X profile -- the fourth his party has produced.
Imran Khan's physical appearance is from a genuine video clip recorded last year, but his voice and speech are artificially generated.
[English Version] Chairman Imran Khan's victory speech (AI version) after an unprecedented fightback from the nation that resulted in PTI’s landslide victory in General Elections 2024. #PTIWon on 180 National Assembly seats so far per Form 45 data. That’s 2/3 majority! pic.twitter.com/fRBEVypSBU
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 10, 2024
Khan's party redefined election campaigning in Pakistan with its social media "rallies" and use of artificial intelligence technology.
TV channels are prohibited from mentioning Khan's name or showing video clips of him, and the party was barred from holding in-person rallies.
Instead, PTI media staff took the party's election campaign online, holding YouTube and TikTok "rallies" -- despite authorities regularly blocking internet access when they did so.
The strategy is widely credited with earning independent candidates loyal to PTI the youth vote, contributing significantly to their success.