The Jokes That AI Will Never Get

Hollywood, no stranger to existential crises, is finding itself torn on the rise of generative AI. Supporters of the technology argue that it’s the cost-saving future of show business, but opponents say that it could be the end of true creativity. As the debate over AI use rages on in the real world, the fictionalized entertainment industries of Hacks and The Comeback are similarly preoccupied. These self-aware comedies, each following women trying to leave their mark in Hollywood before their cachet expires, have satirized the business with cutting specificity. In their final seasons, the critique extends to AI’s temptations and shortcomings, ultimately making the case for the inefficient art of comedy.On The Comeback, the flailing sitcom actress Valerie Cherish (played by Lisa Kudrow) is accustomed to sacrificing her dignity for the spotlight. On Hacks, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a caustic comedian, will happily sell her stories and likeness in exchange for mountains of cash. So when they’re offered lucrative deals involving generative AI, Valerie and Deborah are receptive. Their instinct to look out for themselves means that neither is particularly moved by pleas from those around her to save writers’ jobs. Instead, they discover a consequence of the technology that surprises them both: AI may offer shortcuts, but it also eliminates the human collaboration that helps them produce their best possible work.The Comeback’s blunt depiction of Hollywood neuroses has been ahead of the curve since its 2005 debut. Its first season follows Valerie as she films her own reality show, anticipating the boom of Real Housewives–esque series becoming some of TV’s juiciest dramas. Its second, which first aired in 2014, has Valerie confronting the dysfunction of her former workplaces. Twelve years later, The Comeback’s target is AI. Struggling to find work during a sharp post-pandemic contraction on production and amid the ripple effects of the 2023 writers’ strike, Valerie gets a