Punchlines Without a Pulse: Why AI Can’t Be Funny

When the Algorithm Walks Into a Bar… what happens next? In this episode of AI Experience, Julien Redelsperger chats with Peter Moore, editor, writer, illustrator, and columnist/cartoonist for The Colorado Sun as well as commentator and animator for NPR. Together, they explore a simple but revealing question: can AI ever truly be funny? You’ll hear how humor works as a deeply human skill, why algorithms struggle with punchlines, and what this means for creative jobs. Peter also shares his own journey as a humorist navigating AI tools — using them as an “idiot assistant” rather than a rival. If you’ve ever wondered whether a machine can make you laugh, or why humor might be humanity’s last real edge, this conversation is for you.

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34
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