A few months back, a veteran joke writer from the world of late night went head-to-head in a joke writing contest with an AI tool called Witscript. A human comedian delivered the jokes to a live audience in North L.A. The result? Too close to call. Does that mean the art of joke writing is as dead as George Burns? Not unless AI starts smoking cigars.
Here’s why, in my opinion. A professional joke writer has spent years honing his craft—in front of audiences, in writing rooms, to friends and colleagues. The accumulation of his ability is layered in a thousand life situations and circumstance. An AI program can write a funny wife or husband joke, but was it married three times? Does it pay alimony? Does it see its fat spouse in his underwear? You can tell AI what those experiences are like, but it doesn’t know what they feel like. That’s the difference.
AI’s brilliance goes no deeper that the screen the joke appears on. It doesn’t heal or cry. It doesn’t have to catch its breath. It doesn’t kill or die in front of an audience. It might get a laugh but so does a funny-looking eggplant.
I’m not saying there’s no room for AI joke writing. You need to give a toast at a wedding and you’re not naturally funny? By all means, fire it up. But if joke writing is what you do–or want you want to do–go get a cigar, sit down and write.
