Muhammad Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, has said new technology could allow her late husband’s voice to reach the public without recreating him through artificial intelligence.
Speaking to Lana in the UAE, she said: “We are at a pivotal point in our history where I believe Muhammad’s voice is desperately needed. Fortunately, he’s still very popular because his message is never ending. It’s a message for all seasons.”
However, technology meant Ali’s voice could continue to be heard without recreating his likeness or presence. “I wouldn’t have to bring him anywhere to speak,” she said. “With the invention and advancement of technology and new tools, Muhammad’s voice would be all over.”
She also reflected on how Ali might have used modern platforms during his career.
“I can’t even imagine if Muhammad was in his prime and had access to social media,” she said. “He’d break the internet daily because people found him interesting and wanted to pay attention to what he was saying. Muhammad was very courageous in things he would talk about,” she said.
Ali’s comments came across the sidelines of a partnership in development with the American University of Sharjah. “Sharjah will be the first international city in the Muhammad Ali Index, which measures compassion.”
Vietnam War and the draft
During the interview, she addressed what she said was a common misunderstanding about Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War.
“What people think wrongly about Muhammad is that he was a draft dodger,” she said. “He did not dodge the draft. He said, ‘I’m not going. Put me in jail if you want to.’”
She said Ali did not leave the United States to avoid service. “He did not run off to Canada,” she said. “There’s a difference between standing up and facing the consequences and running away.”
She said Ali’s decision was based on his beliefs and came at a cost. “He stood on those convictions,” she said. “It cost him three and a half years of his life in his prime boxing career.”
Remembering Muhammad Ali the magician
She also spoke about a lesser-known aspect of Ali’s life, his interest in magic. “I’ve known Muhammad since I was six,” she said. “I didn’t know how good he was at magic until my late teens.”
She said Ali showed her magic tricks during a visit to Louisville. “He had a box of magic tricks and he was showing me magic,” she said. “I was mesmerised,” she said, adding his boxing skills translated into his hobby.
“He had a quick jab, so he could move things around and do magic better than most novices,” she said. “It was a hobby he used to entertain people,” she revealed.
