Pakistani politician deepfakes himself to deliver a speech from behind bars

While pundits fear a future where elections are clouded by AI-created videos of faked politicans spreading misinformation, a Pakistani politician has deliberately delivered a deepfake of a speech while isolated from media behind bars. That politician was Imran Khan, elected prime minister in 2018 but stood down from his role …

[Doctor Evil]

AI-synthesized stump speech?

I mean, is that really cricket, Mr. Khan?

[David 132]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

Well, he didn't get out on bail... so he had to prepare his pitch another way.

More seriously though, I do hope he's realized that if he can use AI to deliver a convincing-enough "Imran Khan" speech... so can his opponents. Putting words into rivals' mouths in 3, 2, 1...

[Pascal Monett]

It had to happen some day, I guess, and now it has. And indeed, this is liable to become a political tool to wreak havoc with the opposition. However, in democratic countries, even being a politician does not grant you immunity from libel cases if you put words in someone else's mouth, and your opponent will pounce on you if you try (and he'll win). So doing it openly is a big no-no, but that doesn't mean that covert machinations are impossible to realize.

After all, a well-known politician who specializes in nothing but demonizing his opponents to the everlasting joy of his base only needs to drop a hint and at least some of them will rush to realize a deepfake of their "hated" opponent saying ugly things.

It will happen, the only question is when.

[MiguelC]

Re: "However, in democratic countries, even being a politician does not grant you immunity from libel cases if you put words in someone else's mouth"

And who polices Xitter bots spewing fake vids? (also through other anti-social media, but Xitter is comprehensibly un-policed)

[KittenHuffer]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

Some would say he is batty .... some would say he has balls.

I would say that he is in for 36 months, after which he will be out.

And when he is out he may (eventually) be back in ..... office!

----------> Mines the one with the box in the pocket for protection!

[David 132]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

And according to Jemima Goldsmith, <checks wikipedia> Reham Khan, and Bushra Bibi… he has bowled a maiden over at least once.

Ah, this seam of cricket puns does crease me up…

[Doctor Syntax]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

It's all the work of spin doctors.

[Sceptic Tank]

The wrath of Khan

Is this guy running for the oval office? I'm stumped.

[KittenHuffer]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

I don't think we'll 'run out' of them soon!

[Missing Semicolon]

Re: AI-synthesized stump speech?

Brian Johnston, RIP :-)

[Winkypop]

In the future

The ultra rich will be able to sent their simulant to do the jail time while they cruise the Mediterranean.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, this practice is sure to be all over the Inter Nets. Will we be best off using Net scape? What is Edge based on?

Does using AI mean Dot Net has to be installed? It's not on my old Pavillion. That reminds me to try an SSD on it. I'm fed up with the slow spinner HDD. Needs a better pace.

[HuBo]

Great catch! This newfangled genAI thingamabob requires at least Mosaic++ with the dot-sharp-net framework, a 768 multi-thread super core CPU, and a pair of RTX 9998X TNT GPUs. Otherwise, you won't be allowed to vote.

[Rameshbhai]

I can stand an AI voice over. But not these cricketing puns. I am going batty!