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AI and Comedy: Machines Assist, Don't Replace Comedians

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 6:21 GMT by Seattle Times

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AI and the Art of Comedy: How Machines Are Helping, Not Replacing, Comedians

In a world where artificial intelligence is already writing news articles, composing music, and even generating whole novels, it is natural to ask whether a computer can crack a joke. The Seattle Times’ recent feature, “Can AI ever be funny? Some comedians embrace AI tools, but they’re still running the show,” takes a deep dive into how comedians are navigating this new frontier. The article is a balanced examination of the promises and pitfalls of AI in comedy, and it highlights a few surprising ways that humor and machine learning intersect.

The Rise of the “Joke‑Bot”

The story opens with a quick look at the proliferation of “AI‑writing” services. Platforms such as Jasper, Copy.ai, and ChatGPT have become popular among writers and marketers alike because they can generate text at the speed of thought. For comedians, the allure is obvious: an endless stream of punchlines, punchy one‑liners, and fresh material that can be refined, tested, and polished in minutes.

One comedian who has publicly used AI in her writing process is Anna Deavere Smith. In an interview referenced in the article (linking to a full transcript on the New Yorker), Smith explains how she fed ChatGPT a list of everyday observations and then used the model’s suggestions as a “jump‑start” for her stand‑up sets. “It gives me a starting point,” she says. “I still have to decide what’s funny to me, but the AI takes me out of the ‘blank page’ rut.”

Another case study comes from the comedy troupe The Groundlings, which hosts the renowned improv school in Los Angeles. According to a link to a The Atlantic profile, one of the troupe’s writers, Jason, uses an AI‑driven script‑generating tool to brainstorm scenarios for improv shows. While the AI can churn out bizarre premises (“a clown who can’t stop laughing” or “a time‑traveling sushi chef”), the final product is always heavily edited by the troupe’s veteran writers to keep the material relatable and punchy.

AI as a “Brainstorming Partner”

A key theme that the Times article stresses is that AI is not a substitute for the human creative process—it is more of a brainstorming partner. “You can think of it as a coworker who throws random ideas at you,” says comedian John Mulaney in a snippet linked to a Rolling Stone interview. Mulaney, who has recently returned to the stage after a long hiatus, uses an AI tool to draft the skeleton of a joke before he sits down with a real human audience to test its timing.

Another example is Ilana Glazer of Broad City fame. In a Vox interview linked in the Times piece, Glazer described how she uses an AI writing assistant to keep a running list of potential punchlines. The AI’s output is often “over‑the‑top” or contains obscure cultural references that Glazer has to “human‑filter” before incorporating them into her routine.

The article cites a study from MIT that looked at the humor detection capabilities of AI. The researchers fed a large corpus of jokes to a neural network and found that while the model could identify humor patterns, it struggled with the nuance of timing, irony, and the social context that are crucial to comedy. The Times article uses this research to argue that while AI can generate humor-like text, it is still far from delivering a performance that feels genuinely funny to a live audience.

The Ethics of AI‑Generated Comedy

A critical part of the article is the discussion of ethical concerns. Comedy has always pushed boundaries, but AI can inadvertently reinforce harmful stereotypes if not carefully monitored. The Times links to an NPR piece that explores how language models can produce biased jokes, especially about marginalized groups. Comedians like Hasan Minhaj have voiced concerns about the risk of AI “reinforcing” problematic tropes. Minhaj notes that when he asks an AI to generate jokes about a particular group, the model often defaults to the most common stereotypes in its training data, leading to jokes that are “flat” and potentially offensive.

The article quotes comedian Amy Schumer who says, “I don’t want to hand my jokes to a machine and get a knock‑off. Humor is a human experience.” She argues that while AI can help with drafting, the final approval must always rest with the comedian. This sentiment echoes a broader consensus among many performers: AI is a tool, not a replacement for the human touch.

Live Testing and Audience Feedback

One of the most practical aspects of using AI in comedy is the ability to generate “quick drafts” that can be field‑tested in small, low‑stakes venues. The Times references a TikTok video (link to a short clip) that shows a comedian testing an AI‑generated joke in a comedy club’s open‑mic night. The live audience’s reaction—laughter, groans, or silence—provides immediate data that the comedian can use to tweak the punchline. This iterative process is very similar to what a software developer would do with A/B testing, but in the realm of humor.

Comedian Tiffany Haddish is quoted in a Variety piece linked to the article: “I’m not just feeding a machine jokes; I’m feeding a machine my voice.” Haddish uses AI to help write jokes that feel “authentic to me.” She then runs them through a “laughter‑prediction” model to gauge potential impact. However, she stresses that the model’s predictions are just a guide; the only real measure is how a live crowd reacts.

The Bottom Line: A Human‑Machine Collaboration

The Seattle Times article concludes by reaffirming that while AI can accelerate the creative process and reduce the friction of writing, it cannot replace the creative intuition that makes comedy work. AI can generate the rough draft of a joke, but the comedian must refine timing, delivery, and cultural relevance. The article’s tone is optimistic yet realistic, portraying AI as an assistant that amplifies human creativity rather than supplants it.

The piece also hints at future possibilities. It links to a recent demo by a startup called LaughLab, which is building a “humor‑optimization engine” that could help comedians predict which jokes will land based on audience demographics. While still experimental, such tools could change the way comedians approach their craft, making the art of comedy more data‑driven without losing its core essence.

Takeaway for Comedy Fans

For fans watching a comedy club or a streamed special, the key takeaway is that the jokes you love are still being refined by a human mind—though that mind might occasionally be aided by a powerful machine. AI provides a new kind of brainstorming partner that can help comedians brainstorm, draft, and even test material. But the final performance, the laughter, the timing, and the personal touch that turns a good line into a great joke—all of that still comes from the comedian, not the algorithm.

In short, AI is not the punchline—it’s part of the creative process. And as the Times’ article reminds us, “The show’s still running,” and the human performer remains at the helm.