Imran Khan Says Interview to UK Newspaper Written by AI Based on Pointers He Dictated

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said that an essay recently published by The Economist under his name was ‘AI-generated’. The former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief claimed while speaking to journalists from Adiala Jail where he has been lodged since 2023 on allegations of corruption in the Toshakhana reference case.

The piece published last week shows Imran alleging that US pressure led to a regime change in Pakistan and to his ouster via vote of no-confidence. The former prime minister also said that the May 9 riots that erupted following his arrest was a “false-flag operation” which was “pre-planned”.

Imran Khan also cast doubts on the possibility of elections being held on February 8 saying that he has doubts on whether the elections will be held or not.

“Whether elections happen or not, the manner in which I and my party have been targeted… has made one thing clear: the establishment — the army, security agencies and the civil bureaucracy — is not prepared to provide any playing field at all, let alone a level one, for PTI,” the article said.

According to a report by the Dawn, Khan said he did not pen the piece himself and the essay was based on points he dictated which were put into words using artificial intelligence (AI).

Meanwhile caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi told news agency APP that The Economistpublished “the ghost article” in the name of the former PTI chief.

Citing people close to Imran Khan, Dawn said the essay contains facts mentioned by the PTI founder at different points in time and that the piece was a summary of facts already available on social media.

However, a report published on Tuesday by the Pakistani newspaper citing PTI officials familiar with the developments said the words were indeed those of Imran Khan but were hesitant to comment on how the essay was relayed to the international magazine from inside Adiala Jail.

Since the article was first published last week, it has been reposted at least seven times from the The Economist’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The posts garnered over 25 million views.