Dudesy, an AI ‘comedian,’ just dropped a whole comedy show imitating the late George Carlin without his family’s approval. Carlin’s daughter and fans are understandably upset, but there may be little they can do about it.
George Carlin is widely regarded as one of the greatest stand-up comedians in history. Over the course of his career, he delivered 14 specials where he fearlessly tackled controversial subjects, using his sharp and cutting humor to both amass a dedicated fanbase and generate polarizing reactions.
Upon George Carlin’s passing in 2008, fans mourned the loss of new material from the comedic legend. Now, their emotions have shifted to anger as an AI program has resurrected ‘Carlin’ in an hour-long YouTube video titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead.”
Dudesy, an AI program, serves as a co-host on a comedic podcast alongside comedian Will Sasso (known for MADtv and Young Sheldon) and author Chad Kultgen.
The video features AI-generated audio of ‘Carlin’ delivering a stand-up show, accompanied by computer-generated images and applause sounds synchronized with the punchlines. If you hold George Carlin in high regard, you might want to consider skipping the video.
Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the video is its impressive quality. When I say “good,” I mean how remarkably similar it sounds to George Carlin. The voice, rhythm, intonation, and even the humor all contribute to creating an illusion that it could have been recorded by Carlin himself.
While some fans may contest this viewpoint, their understandable discomfort with the concept might be affecting an objective evaluation of the remarkable progress in AI. If presented as a legitimate, rediscovered Carlin recording, it’s likely that his fans would have found enjoyment in it.
In the video’s introduction, Dudesy explicitly states, “I just want to let you know very clearly that what you’re about to hear is not George Carlin. It’s my impersonation of George Carlin that I developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would. I listened to all of George Carlin’s material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude, as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today.”
Kelly Carlin, George Carlin’s daughter, provided a clear and unequivocal evaluation of the AI experiment. She remarked, “My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain, and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius. These AI-generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again.”
Kelly Carlin then warns that the families of comedians like Robin Williams and Garry Shandling could be next.
Given the video’s upfront declaration of being a parody and comedic impersonation, the options for Carlin or others to address this situation seem limited.
In the routine, ‘Carlin’ humorously suggests that AI could take over the roles of human stand-up comedians. He playfully assures the audience of the return of Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Andy Kaufman, envisioning them in “24-hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year streams commenting on everything that’s happening in the world as it happens.”
What adds a layer of concern is the potential popularity of such content, possibly making Dudesy, or the undisclosed AI company, financially successful.
The truly unsettling thought remains: What if it turns out to be embraced by a wide audience?
