Comedian George Carlin recently released his first stand-up comedy special in 16 years, much to the surprise of his dedicated fans and even his family, despite his passing in 2008.
The AI-generated special titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” presented by Dudesy, an AI entity co-hosting the Dudesy podcast with comedian Will Sasso and podcaster Chad Kultgen, aims to bring back the iconic comedian to share his views on modern subjects like social media, mass shootings, Taylor Swift, and AI. However, the special quickly faced backlash from fans and the public, including Kelly Carlin, the comedian’s daughter.
The discourse around the ethical use of AI in the arts has been ongoing as technology such as ChatGPT and DALL-E has become more accessible. The AI Carlin stand-up special has raised concerns about the potential replacement of human artists by AI in the future.
According to Michael Ann DeVito, an assistant professor at Northeastern University, the reality of AI completely replacing human creativity in stand-up comedy is distant. DeVito highlights that the Carlin special exposes the limitations of AI in terms of additional creativity.
The AI responsible for the special, operated by an undisclosed company, describes the process as an impression of George Carlin, based on studying his material to mimic his voice, style, and potential interests today. DeVito suggests that the AI accurately predicts Carlin’s perspectives on the discussed topics due to his outspoken nature and successfully replicates Carlin’s delivery style.
However, DeVito emphasizes that while the AI can imitate Carlin’s mannerisms, it falls short in capturing the depth and nuances of a comedian’s storytelling and impactful punchlines, which are integral to Carlin’s performances.
The ethical implications of AI-generated art, including questions about copyright laws and the use of personal data, are also brought to light by the AI Carlin special. Concerns about the authenticity and legality of utilizing AI to replicate artists without consent raise significant ethical dilemmas.
Cansu Canca, director of responsible AI practice at Northeastern’s Institute for Experiential AI, questions the purpose behind replicating artists through AI, emphasizing that AI-generated work may not truly represent the individual artist’s evolving perspective and unique voice.
DeVito reflects on the human tendency to grapple with grief and mortality, suggesting that AI-generated representations of deceased individuals, including celebrities like Carlin, may stem from a desire to evade the pain of loss. However, she asserts that no technological advancement can replace the genuine human experience of coping with grief.
In a world where AI can recreate the presence of loved ones or beloved artists indefinitely, the concept of closure and acceptance is redefined. Kelly Carlin advocates for appreciating the authentic work of living comedians and encourages experiencing George Carlin’s legacy through his existing body of work, comprising 14 specials available for audiences to explore.
