HUM TV has announced it will broadcast Pakistan first AI-generated film, a production centred on a Palestinian boy, drawing significant backlash from social media users.
The film, titled The Next Salahuddin, was written and created using artificial intelligence by Farhan Siddiqui, based on a concept originally developed by Ustadh Asim Ismail.
A Malaysian non-profit organisation called Cinta Gaza Malaysia was also involved in the overall development and production of the film alongside its core Pakistani creative team.
The story follows Yousuf, a young Gazan boy whose entire family is killed in an airstrike by the israel, leaving him buried beneath the rubble of his home.
Yousuf then dedicates his life to uniting Muslims across the world, raising the Palestinian flag over Al Aqsa Mosque, and avenging the suffering of his people.
The film draws direct parallels with Salahuddin Ayubi, the historical Muslim general who famously captured Jerusalem from Crusader forces during the medieval period.
Produced by Jinn TV, the film completed a limited theatrical run earlier this year, screening across nine Pakistani cities before its television deal was secured.
HUM TV formally announced the acquisition on last Friday but has not yet confirmed any specific broadcast date for the upcoming television premiere of the film.
The announcement of the AI generated film was met with widespread criticism online, as many users questioned whether AI was an appropriate tool for telling the Palestinian story.
Many netizens asked why HUM TV, part of one of the largest media companies in Pakistan, could not fund a traditionally produced film on this subject.
Users also raised serious concerns about the broader ethical problems of AI, including its heavy water consumption and its well-documented harm to professional artists and writers.
Several commenters stated firmly that AI-generated content does not constitute genuine art and openly urged the public to boycott all generative AI tools entirely.
