Pakistan’s First AI-Generated Film Sparks Online Debate
HUM TV is set to premiere Pakistan’s first artificial intelligence (AI)-generated film, The Next Salahuddin, which has sparked significant criticism and debate on social media platforms.
The film was written and created using AI by Farhan Siddiqui, based on a concept developed by Ustadh Asim Ismail. This production involved collaboration with the Malaysian non-profit organization Cinta Gaza Malaysia alongside a core Pakistani creative team. The storyline centers on Yousuf, a young boy from Gaza who survives an Israeli airstrike that kills his family. The film draws parallels between Yousuf’s struggle and the historic Muslim general Salahuddin Ayubi, who recaptured Jerusalem from Crusader forces during the medieval period.
Produced by Jinn TV, the film was previously screened in a limited theatrical release across nine Pakistani cities earlier this year. HUM TV’s announcement of acquiring the broadcast rights came last Friday, although the channel has not yet disclosed the specific airing date.
Despite the pioneering use of AI in Pakistani cinema, the announcement provoked widespread backlash. Many social media users questioned the appropriateness of employing AI to tell such a sensitive and significant story. Critics raised concerns about the ethical implications of AI in creative fields, emphasizing the negative environmental impact due to AI’s high water consumption and the potential harm to professional artists and writers. Several commentators argued that AI-generated works lack genuine artistic merit and urged audiences to reject generative AI technologies.
Others questioned why a major media network like HUM TV did not invest in a traditionally produced film on the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the importance of human storytelling and authentic creative processes in conveying such narratives.
The controversy surrounding The Next Salahuddin highlights ongoing global debates regarding the role of artificial intelligence in arts and media, particularly in handling stories with deep cultural and historical significance.