AU
From the shadows of the Hollywood writers' strike, Chelsea Bailey asks whether AI could be funnier than Stephen Colbert. Which, from the little of Colbert that I've been able to stomach, doesn't seem like much of a challenge.
And, indeed, that appears to be the case.
She compares a recent joke of his about 'Pa Joe with one generated by AI. The first was not that amusing, while the latter genuinely made me laugh, especially the gag: In a recent poll, 50% of Americans said they were worried about his age, and the other 50% were Joe Biden. But let's be real, folks, Biden's age is not a big deal. He's got the energy of a 30-year-old, and the memory of a... well, I forget what I was going to say.
Bailey discusses some of the drawbacks of AI-generated comedy, but without counterbalancing it with the drawbacks of guild writers-generated comedy. Could AI herald the end of Jimmy The Smug
Kimmel? You know what they say about clouds and silver linings.
Overall, I was impressed by ChatGPT's ability to mimic the monologue style and tone of America's biggest late-night hosts, but even it knows its jokes are missing a human touch - just ask AI Stephen Colbert: "Let's be real, nobody wants to watch a robot do a monologue. Unless it's a robot with impeccable comedic timing and a charming personality. But, you know, good luck finding one of those.
Chelsea Bailey, BBC News
So you're more likely to get a robot without a charming personality and impeccable timing? Not unlike the real Stephen Colbert then.
Artificial unfunny.