Cameroonian President Paul Biya, the world's longest-serving head of state, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to campaign for the next election, as he seeks another term that might prolong his 43-years in power.
Campaigning kicked off on Saturday in ahead of the October 12 presidential vote in which Biya, is seeking yet another term that could extend his rule.
However, Biya is out of the country and just days before the official start of the campaign, the nonagenarian flew to Europe for what his cabinet described as a “brief private stay.”
The president has spent a lot of time outside Cameroon, often in Europe especially Geneva, Switzerland.
He is yet to return, leaving his rivals crisscrossing the country while his team relies on a virtual strategy.
Instead of a rallying appearance or live broadcast, Biya’s team released a glossy campaign video generated in part with artificial intelligence.
The two-minute video portrays Biya as a visionary and experienced leader, mixing AI-simulated backdrops, idealized crowd shots, and near-perfect renderings of construction projects.
In the montage, Biya is shown signing acts and more animated than in recent public appearances, which he rarely does.
The video depicts him as the statesman who embodies both “greatness and experience,” positioning him as the only candidate capable of steering Cameroon through its economic and security challenges.
It also uses AI-generated footages to claim that the Biya prioritises young people, as well as women empowerment.
However, many Cameroonians have promptly pointed out the discrepancy between the virtual image and reality.
“If, at this point in time, we cannot take real images for our campaign, then there is a problem,” Julien Essome Elockiss commented on Biya’s post on Facebook.
Others criticised the use of AI to disguise Biya's customary long absences and senior age, referring to it as metaverse politics.
Analysts believe the incident represents a larger worldwide trend: the growing prominence of AI-generated content in politics.
Deepfake political advertising in the US and synthetic candidate visuals in West Africa are examples of how technology is used to energise supporters while also blurring the line between reality and fabrication.
“Lack of real field videos during campaigns brings forth the issue of deep fake visuals which can change public opinion to either favour discredit the incumbent or his political opponents,” said Gilles Yumo Nyuydzewira, a lecturer of communication sciences at the University of Yaounde II Soa.
He told ITWeb Africa that AI is still a 'virgin' area in Cameroon's political landscape, with people unable to comprehend its right use.
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