Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
"There's a certain humanity I think ChatGPT just can't hit, no matter how good it is," one of the comedians said. SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The night before her comedy show in San Francisco, Priyanka Shekar went onto ChatGPT and typed: “Tell me a joke about divorce.” Having worked in the tech industry, Shekar has grown comfortable with artificial intelligence and used it as a process for brainstorming ideas. By now, it knew her so well that it spat out a personalized joke that coincided with her life experiences. “It’s a pretty powerful creative tool for anyone to use,” Shekar said. “Comics honestly probably should start using it.” Shekar was one of several comedians taking part in the Laugh GPT comedy show at Mayes Oyster House in San Francisco on Oct. 3. The show involves a group of comedians performing their set, followed by a series of jokes where the audience guesses whether they were written by a human or by ChatGPT. Most of the time, the audience guessed correctly. The show, incorporating AI, has been going on for at least two years and was previously featured in a Washington Post article. But the use of AI in society has prompted debates about who, if anyone, stands to benefit from it. Many companies, such as Google, Duolingo, and UPS, have turned to AI for production, leading to mass layoffs. A study by Stanford University reveals that the labor market has also shifted in part to AI. This has led to a 13% decline in employment for early–career workers, according to the study. A 2024 report by CVL Economics reveals that the entertainment industry is also experiencing disruption from AI. The report estimates that more than 200,000 jobs in the entertainment industry will be impacted over the next three years as AI’s prevalence grows. The use of AI in comedy and entertainment is a tricky line to walk, according to multiple performers interviewed for this report. “It's fun, it's a gimmick — I don't personally see it as something that's lasting,” said Cat Pignati Lane, one of the standup comedians who performed at the Laugh GPT show. “I hope it's just a fad. None of us want to be replaced.” Cat Pignati Lane, one of the Laugh GPT comedians, said she has been a comedy fan ever since she was a child. Over her nearly six years performing standup, Lane said she has never used AI to help her write jokes, instead focusing on sharing stories from her life to connect with the audience. That is, until her performance at the Laugh GPT show, Lane said. Lane asked the platform to give her one-liners, and then asked it to make a joke better, she said. But she didn’t find that it helped her routine, instead seeing it as a “little game,” Lane said. She added that people looking to perform standup are better off watching old comedies or some of the comedy greats to improve their own routines. Multiple comedians agreed that although ChatGPT could be a fun tool to play with and practice on, it couldn’t replace the elements needed for a stand-up comedy set. “There's a certain humanity I think ChatGPT just can’t hit, no matter how good it is,” said Sean Derum, who hosted the Laugh GPT event. JD Arandia, another comedian, agreed. Arandia said he sees the benefits of AI use in his daily life, but not in standup. He added that there are “things to be afraid of” with ChatGPT, comparing it to the rise of social media and the internet. ChatGPT, however, is “more potent,” Arandia said. He believes that what makes a stand-up set funny is the improv. While ChatGPT can help trigger a memory, it's the person’s setup, intonation, and delivery that ultimately determine whether a joke is funny, Arandia said. “I think it can be funny sometimes, where it’ll add to something,” Arandia said. “But to create actual jokes, I think you still need a human element for comedy, and probably for a long time you’re going to need that.” Human or AI - can you tell the difference? Take the quiz!
