On December 17, 2023, a virtual political rally was held in Pakistan. The rally was considered a first of its kind, launched by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Other than being a virtual political rally, the uniqueness of this particular event is the absence of the political leader himself, since he’s in jail. Personally, I believe such a political rally might be the first in the world to use artificial intelligence. Firstly, even without Imran Khan, the public still managed to receive his message and even hear his voice through the wonders of artificial intelligence. Secondly, the images used during the virtual political rally giving a visual representation of Imran Khan’s life in jail indicates that the PR and the digital media team of PTI used AI extensively for the virtual rally, as the images used for the visual representation of Imran’s current state were AI-generated images likely using “Midjourney” or other AI models such as “Stability Diffusion.”.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, the only thing that I, as a person, feared the most was politicians figuring out a way to use it for their own political games and careers. While the world keeps talking about the ramifications of using AI in military conflicts and automation, what they really should be talking about is the severe and immediate consequences of using AI in the political sphere. You see, handing over the powers of AI to a politician is equivalent to handing over the nuclear briefcase to a toddler. A briefcase with all the shiny buttons a toddler will likely press, not knowing the grave consequences that will occur later on. A similar case is with the politicians getting their hands on artificial intelligence. Even with the likes of Imran Khan with all their sincerity and intelligence, but the dangers of using AI in volatile arenas such as politics will further destabilize and bring complexity to the already volatile social landscape that exists within Pakistan.
Yes, we all know that the rally was a success, mainly because it got the attention of the powers that be and the people of Pakistan, but it also got the attention of the global community since this was the first time, they had witnessed a political organization using AI as a tool for political campaigns. Considering the current political environment of Pakistan and the current state of PTI, it is understandable why they chose this path. To PTI, they are at a point of no return; to them, they are in a state where desperate times call for desperate measures. The kind of measures they have taken have helped them spread their message not just within Pakistan but around the globe as well. One thing that should be concerning for all of us is the use of AI in the political arena. If AI is implemented by government agencies, corporate groups, and the military, it means that such technology is only accessible to professionals who are aware of both the benefits and consequences of using AI. The use of AI by politicians is a whole different story. No matter how good or intelligent a politician is, a politician is still a politician who will do anything in his or her power to secure his or her votes and safeguard his or her career. Unlike corporate and government agencies, politicians play a significant role in our daily lives, from small-time political members to major leagues. The use of AI will only further polarize and create instability within the political landscape of Pakistan in the long term.
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