Actor and host, Faysal Quraishi recently expressed concern over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the entertainment industry, particularly drama serials. During his Ramazan transmission for a local channel, he addressed how AI manipulation is altering the perception of Pakistani dramas.
"Strange videos are circulating," Quraishi noted, referring to doctored clips that misrepresent original scenes from popular serials. These AI-generated videos, he explained, disrupt the narrative integrity of the dramas. "Our audience reaches out to us with questions about the manipulated scenes," he said, adding, "and we tell them that even we don't know where this came from."
Quraishi's remarks highlight a growing issue in the entertainment industry as AI technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated. Manipulated clips, often taken out of context or completely fabricated, can tarnish the reputation of actors and production teams. For creators, it is a frustrating challenge to see their work distorted and redistributed, often with malicious intent. "These kinds of things are happening," Quraishi admitted, "to which we don't have a solution right now."
His observations come at a time when the global entertainment industry is grappling with the implications of AI in content creation and manipulation. While AI has been lauded for enhancing production quality and streamlining processes, its misuse in generating fake content is increasingly causing harm. Earlier this year, fabricated videos of Pakistani actors went viral on social media, sparking outrage. These explicit clips, created using generative AI tools, falsely depicted Bilal Abbas Khan and Durefishan Saleem in Ishq Murshid, as well as Danish Taimoor and Hiba Qadir in Jaan Nisar, kissing on-screen. The circulation of these AI-manipulated videos not only spread misinformation but also highlighted the growing misuse of deepfake technology for harmful purposes in Pakistan.
The clips drew criticism and calls for action from PEMRA, Pakistan's media regulator. A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) asked, "What has happened to Pakistan's drama industry? It is breaking new records of nudity and obscenity." The manipulated footage garnered over 250,000 views, fuelling widespread misinformation.
Reverse image searches revealed the original, unaltered scenes from Ishq Murshid and Jaan Nisar, which contain no such moments. The authentic clips, posted by official accounts, demonstrate how far AI manipulation has gone in misleading audiences.
Quraishi's concerns also raise important questions about regulation and awareness in the digital space. With AI tools becoming more widely available, the line between authentic and inauthentic content continues to blur. As a prominent figure in the entertainment world, his call for solutions emphasises the need for collaborative efforts from industry stakeholders to counter the misuse of AI.
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