The AI Comedy Revolution: A Practical Guide to Your Writer’s Best Frenemy

Two weeks ago, I stood in front of a room full of seasoned screenwriters at a major international media corporation. My task was to enlighten them about using AI in their writing process. What unfolded over the next hour was nothing short of a whirlwind journey, taking this group from staunch AI skeptics to enthusiastic adopters.

By the end of the session, it was clear: this revolution isn’t just coming — it’s here and moving at breakneck speed. No one in the writing world can afford to be left behind.

While AI isn’t yet at the “fully automated” level of hilarity, it’s been integrated into many writing processes, from ads to late-night shows. We’re only a year into this revolution, and it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s one of the biggest shake-ups in the writing profession since the invention of the typewriter or even the delete key.

From “Meh” to “Ha!”: The AI Comedy Evolution

For over a year, I’ve been conducting a regular experiment with the same prompt across various AI engines. I asked these language models to write a Woody Allen-style stand-up bit about dating apps. At first, it was about as funny as a tax audit. Two months later, it was closer…but still as dry as overcooked turkey. Since then, the improvement has been nothing short of exponential. The bit Claude wrote this week actually made me laugh out loud.

The Death of Writer’s Block (And the Birth of Prompt Block)

Even the most skeptical can’t deny that AI has obliterated the dreaded writer’s block. Gone are the days of staring anxiously at a blank Word document, wondering if you should just give up and become a mime. Today, no matter what the writing task, any writer can get a first draft — for better or worse — and work from there. We’ve shifted from being creators to curators, like museum directors, but without the tweed jackets.

AI in Action: A Family Vacation Experiment

Now, this doesn’t replace the writer, but it does save time in drafting, bringing ideas and perspectives we’d never think of alone. It’s still in its early stages, and we’re learning something new every day. But I’m happy to share some basics and recommend you experiment with it. It can be as simple as what I did this morning when I asked ChatGPT’s voice assistant to create a personalized stand-up bit for our family trip to London, tailored for a dad, a 13-year-old sports fanatic son, and a 9-year-old creative daughter. The result was amusing, and the kids found it hilarious. Here is a snippet. Try to imagine the synthetic voice reads it:

DIY AI Comedy: No Sense of Humor Required (But It Helps)

Anyway, You don’t need any special skills or a sense of humor (though it helps if you’re not a complete stick in the mud). Just go to Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity and type the following prompt:

“You are now a well-experienced comedy writer. Help me brainstorm and refine jokes in the style of [your favorite comedian] about [your topic].”

For example, I used Claude and asked for Woody Allen-style jokes about dating apps. The results might not have Woody Allen signing over his royalties, but there are some cute starts that a comedy writer could sharpen and upgrade.

You can even go for more freestyle by saying, “Give me ten potential comedic observations and insights related to [topic].”

For example

Then, ask to turn the observation into a punchline:

“Generate three punchlines for this premise: [insert your chosen premise]”

The Virtual Audience: Like a Focus Group, But Less Awkward

Here’s where it gets interesting — something not enough people use: trying out material on a virtual audience. There’s a problem with comedy writing. It’s like trying on deodorants, after four — everything stinks. AI offers a virtual audience. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. You can generate an audience (say, sophisticated, urban, or women) or simply write:

Rate these jokes on a scale of 1–10 and explain why: [insert your jokes].

The Last Laugh

We’re just scratching the surface with AI, but even the most skeptical can see the enormous potential to produce good, sophisticated material. AI doesn’t write instead of us, but it’s a very creative and convenient partner that still needs upgrading, editing, and, most importantly, soul. In cultural insights, feelings, and emotions, humans are still better (emphasis on “still”).