The latest articles on DEV Community by Muhammad Usman SU92-BSAIM-F25-025 (@muhammad_usmansu92bsaim). https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4182860%2F73e8b8b6-f071-455e-9a1c-8ed085625959.jpg https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim en Muhammad Usman SU92-BSAIM-F25-025 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:57:29 +0000 https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim/do-ai-generated-video-advertisements-work-for-pakistans-small-businesses-4kga https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim/do-ai-generated-video-advertisements-work-for-pakistans-small-businesses-4kga <p><em>By Muhammad Usman, BS Artificial Intelligence, Superior University Lahore — October 2026</em></p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Status: This is a research proposal. The experiment described below has NOT been run yet. It is published here to invite collaboration and feedback.</strong></p> </blockquote> <h2> The Problem </h2> <p>AI-generated video advertisements are exploding in popularity among small businesses: tools can now produce polished, voiceover-driven product ads in hours at a fraction of traditional production cost. Yet the experimental literature on whether these ads actually work is thin — and comes entirely from Western or English-language contexts:</p> <ul> <li>A 21,000-consumer WhatsApp experiment (MIT/Harvard) reported a <strong>+9.4 percentage-point lift in click-through rate</strong> for AI-generated ads.</li> <li>A June 2026 HKBU field experiment across 150+ ads found <strong>higher CTR and retention but lower conversions</strong> for AI-generated video ads.</li> <li>A 2026 Syracuse/Ipsos study of 3,000 US consumers found AI ads <strong>14% weaker in the short term and 17% weaker on brand equity</strong> than human-made ads.</li> <li>Other work suggests <strong>CTR drops ~31.5% when AI involvement is disclosed</strong> to viewers.</li> </ul> <p>These findings disagree with each other — and, crucially, none of them examined <strong>Urdu-language AI video ads for Pakistani SMEs distributed via WhatsApp</strong>, the channel much of Pakistan's small-business commerce runs on.</p> <h2> Research Questions </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>RQ1:</strong> Do Urdu-language AI-generated video ads beat human-produced ads on click-through and retention when distributed via WhatsApp broadcast lists?</li> <li> <strong>RQ2:</strong> Does the conversion gap reported in Western studies replicate for low-price, everyday products in the Pakistani SME context?</li> <li> <strong>RQ3:</strong> Does disclosing the ad's AI-generated nature reduce engagement among Pakistani viewers?</li> <li> <strong>RQ4:</strong> Is synthesised Urdu voiceover the trust bottleneck — i.e., does viewer perception hinge on the voice rather than the visuals?</li> </ul> <h2> Proposed Methodology </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Design:</strong> Randomised field experiment with <strong>8–12 Lahore SMEs</strong>.</li> <li> <strong>Stimuli:</strong> Matched AI-generated vs human-produced <strong>15–30 second vertical ads</strong> for the same product, keeping product, offer, and price constant.</li> <li> <strong>Distribution:</strong> Randomised <strong>WhatsApp broadcast split</strong>, with an additional AI-disclosure treatment arm.</li> <li> <strong>Metrics:</strong> Attention (view-through/retention), conversion (inquiries, orders), a perception survey, and cost per ad.</li> <li> <strong>Analysis:</strong> Pre-registered, with informed consent from all participants and anonymised aggregate reporting.</li> </ul> <h2> Expected Contributions </h2> <ol> <li>The <strong>first empirical evidence</strong> on AI video ad effectiveness in the Pakistani SME / Urdu-language / WhatsApp setting.</li> <li> <strong>Practical guidance</strong> for Pakistani small businesses deciding whether to adopt AI video advertising.</li> <li>A <strong>replicable, low-cost experimental protocol</strong> other researchers and practitioners can run.</li> </ol> <h2> Call for Collaboration </h2> <p>This is a research proposal inviting collaboration — the experiment is yet to be run. If you are a researcher, a Lahore-based SME owner, or an AI practitioner interested in this problem, I would love to hear from you.</p> <p><strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="mailto:su92-bsaim-f25-025@superior.edu.pk">su92-bsaim-f25-025@superior.edu.pk</a></p> ai research marketing pakistan Muhammad Usman SU92-BSAIM-F25-025 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:56:46 +0000 https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim/muhammad-usman-emerging-ai-engineer-and-creative-technologist-kbg https://dev.to/muhammad_usmansu92bsaim/muhammad-usman-emerging-ai-engineer-and-creative-technologist-kbg <h1> Muhammad Usman: Emerging AI Engineer and Creative Technologist </h1> <p>Muhammad Usman — known professionally as <strong>Usman Kalera</strong> — is a BS Artificial Intelligence student at Superior University Lahore (Class of 2026, currently in his 3rd semester) and a creative technologist working at the intersection of generative AI, video production, and web development.</p> <h2> Background </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>From:</strong> Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan</li> <li> <strong>Based in:</strong> Lahore, Pakistan</li> <li> <strong>Education:</strong> BS Artificial Intelligence, Superior University Lahore (2026–present, 3rd semester)</li> <li> <strong>Languages:</strong> English, Urdu, Punjabi</li> </ul> <h2> Skills </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Programming:</strong> Python, C++</li> <li> <strong>Generative AI:</strong> AI video generation, prompt engineering, AI art direction, Urdu/English text-to-speech voiceover</li> <li> <strong>Web development:</strong> WordPress (Astra, Smart Slider 3, Contact Form 7, Rank Math SEO)</li> </ul> <h2> Work Highlights </h2> <h3> AI-Generated Video Advertising </h3> <ul> <li> <strong>Rakhzaar product ad</strong> — a 22-second AI-generated video advertisement for a brand</li> <li> <strong>Portfolio showreel</strong> — a 60-second AI video showreel featuring 3D illustrations</li> <li> <strong>Meta-style hiring ad</strong> — a 20-second AI-generated hiring advertisement</li> </ul> <h3> Digital Growth Hub </h3> <p>A complete WordPress business website for a Lahore client: 7 pages, 5 posts, a homepage slider, a working contact system, and full SEO setup.</p> <h3> Portfolio Website </h3> <p>A published dark-theme personal portfolio website with 3D interactive elements — <a href="https://muse.ai/s/portfolio-website-x0xr67inxk9edxf" rel="noopener noreferrer">view it here</a>.</p> <h3> Lahore Vlog Series </h3> <p>A multi-part cinematic vlog series on Lahore with English narration and Urdu subtitles.</p> <h3> <em>Haveli — Aakhri Waar</em> </h3> <p>An original Pakistani AI action-film concept, created as a proof of concept for AI-driven filmmaking in Pakistan.</p> <h2> Freelance &amp; Business </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Fiverr seller</strong> — <code>usman0_kalera</code>, offering AI video ads and reels</li> <li> <strong>Usman Kalera (Google Business Profile)</strong> — video production and website design, Lahore</li> <li> <strong>GitHub</strong> — <code>Usmankalera-dev</code> </li> </ul> <h2> Research &amp; Community </h2> <ul> <li>Published <strong>"The Kalera Biradari: A Historical and Ethnographic Inquiry into a Punjabi Muslim Jat Gotra"</strong> (October 2026)</li> <li>Selected for <strong>Pak Angels Cohort 12</strong> — HEC-NCEAC/PEC Generative &amp; Agentic AI training</li> <li> <strong>Ultimate Research Bootcamp 2026, Batch 27</strong> (WeMultiOmics)</li> <li>Member of the <strong>Uraan Bano Shaheen</strong> youth volunteer network</li> </ul> <h2> Contact </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:su92-bsaim-f25-025@superior.edu.pk">su92-bsaim-f25-025@superior.edu.pk</a> </li> <li> <strong>Portfolio:</strong> <a href="https://muse.ai/s/portfolio-website-x0xr67inxk9edxf" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://muse.ai/s/portfolio-website-x0xr67inxk9edxf</a> </li> </ul> <p>Open to collaboration on AI video projects, web development, and research.</p> ai career pakistan video