Caracas (AFP) – Venezuela has breathed new life into independence hero Simon Bolivar and other long-dead historical figures, using their artificial intelligence avatars to drum up military reservists in view of a feared US invasion. Along with Bolivar, independence-era military hero Francisco de Miranda, 20th century novelist Romulo Gallegos, and poet Andres Eloy Blanco address Venezuelans on social media or on state TV as part of the “I enlist” campaign.
“A people who love freedom will be free. Today, freedom is defended with your voice and your presence. I enlist,” states an AI-generated Bolivar — the father of post-colonial Venezuela — as soldiers battle behind him. President Nicolas Maduro has urged civilians to join the Venezuelan militia — a civilian backup to the standing army — as he warns of a “threat” from the United States.
Washington has dispatched five warships and thousands of Marines toward the Caribbean country for what was labeled an anti-drug operation, though Caracas fears there is more to the deployment. Venezuela has deployed warships and drones to patrol its coastline and Maduro said he would activate 4.5 million militia members — a number questioned by observers — to confront “any threat.”
The United States does not recognize Maduro’s 2024 reelection to a third term, which was rejected by the opposition and much of the rest of the world as a stolen vote. Maduro accuses Washington of seeking regime change.
© 2024 AFP
