When Bots Write Comedy, the Joke’s on Us

Generative artificial intelligence has been making waves in various industries, but its impact on comedy writing is particularly noteworthy. Two TV comedies, HBO’s Hacks and Showtime’s The Comeback, have been using satire to highlight AI’s limitations.

Both series feature writers struggling to adapt to AI-generated content. Valerie Cherish in The Comeback and Deborah Vance in Hacks are veteran comedians who have spent decades navigating the industry’s complexities. They’re not naive about its flaws but also aren’t convinced that AI is a game-changer. In fact, they see it as a potential threat to their careers.

In The Comeback, Valerie is approached by Brandon Wallick, a tech entrepreneur, with an offer to lead a new comedy show written entirely by a computer program called “Al.” Initially, Valerie sees this as an easy way out of the creative grind. However, she soon realizes that Al’s limitations are numerous: it can’t adjust to live studio audiences and is prone to plagiarism and absurd storylines.

Similarly, in Hacks, Deborah Vance is offered a deal by Graham Sweeney, a tech investor, to use her catalog for his app, QuikScribbl. Ava, Deborah’s co-writer, warns that this will lead to the “cataclysmic reshaping of society,” but Deborah sees it as an opportunity to break through industry barriers.

What’s striking about both shows is their nuanced portrayal of writers’ relationships with AI. Valerie and Deborah are struggling to adapt to a changing landscape, while Brandon and Graham see AI as a means to make money. The latter two are more interested in using writers as data inputs than collaborators.

This dichotomy raises questions about the future of comedy writing. It suggests that while AI may have its uses, it’s ultimately a crutch for those who don’t want to put in the hard work required to create something original. Deborah Vance’s response to Graham’s suggestion is telling: “Nothing could offend her more than the idea that her love for crafting jokes is a waste of time.”

In other words, Deborah values the creative process over the product itself. She enjoys the struggle of coming up with new and original ideas and sees AI as a shortcut that undermines this process.

Ultimately, both shows are warning us about the dangers of relying too heavily on technology to solve our creative problems. While AI may have its uses in certain contexts, it’s not a substitute for human collaboration and creativity. As James Burrows notes in The Comeback, “The funniest and most surprising punch lines come from writers beating themselves up to beat out a better joke.”