In the last few years improv has dramatically evolved. It is crazy to see how far it has come and it is scary that you can watch videos now and not be sure whether they are real or fake. I mean, I shouldn’t be interested in how a caramel or honey typing keyboard would sound or feel like but here we are – this is what AI has become.

However, whilst it AI is making a lot of people fearful for things such as jobs, how it is going to change the world etc. I thought I would use it. Over the whole of October, I am going to have conversations with AI. There are many different things that can be talked about when it comes to improv and I wanted to see what AI had to say. I am going to talk specifically to two different AI bots to see if they offer different things, ChatGPT and Codepilot. I am sure each AI ‘robot’ will speak differently so lets see what they have to say about this weeks topic.

Today’s Topic – Is Improv Dying?

I thought if I was going to have conversations with Ai, I want to start off pretty blunt and see what it has to say about improv. Is it a dying comedy form? The conversations I had were interesting.

I spoke to two AI robots – Chat GPT and Codepilot and they both started off with a sentence that instantly made me happy:

“Improv isn’t dying – it’s transforming and evolving”

It then goes off in different directions. So lets talk about some important points that ChatGPT made first.

The main reason why ChatGPT believes there is an element of death in improv is because it has been hit hard – especially in America with venues as Improv Boston closing permanently due to finances. ChatGPT foes make a really interesting point that in the United Kingdom it is in resurgence and becoming stronger then ever. AI believes it is due to both improv venues and acts delving into the social media world and engaging with new audiences is keeping it alive which is fascinating.

It also delves into the fact that whilst improv is a hobby, the factors that are helping the ‘boom’ in the United Kingdom is the fact that corporate companies have started to look at improv coaches to help train staff to get the best out of them. Apparently revenues from corporate improv alone has risen by 15%.

Whilst you would think social media or digital may of stopped due to pandemic going away, some acts have thrived in the social media world. Some even have gained hundreds or thousands of followers alike thanks to TikTok and improv creativity evolving.

Whilst Codepilot explored similar opinions, it also expanded and spoke about different angles with this being one of the quotes:

The future of improv is looking less like a fading spotlight and more like a kaleidoscope – shifting, expanding and dazzling in unexpected ways!”

Codepilot

This is a great quote, it also creates a sense of hope for the future. The main thing I got from Codepilot is that improv is evolving and adapting a because it has to survive. Codepilot states a few ways it will evolve:

Technology

There are already groups such as Improbotics that rely heavily on AI but it does state that incorporating AI even a little bit is going to help the comedy form evolve and develop.

Inclusivity

One thing, especially in the UK that is allowing improv to thrive is the inclusivity, with more underrepresented voices now having a space. Also pop up performances and community improv spares are helping and allowing for it to develop.

Social Media

Apps like TikTok are allowing people to understand improv more and get an understanding and a new element of engagement to it.

It was a pleasant surprise to find that AI didn’t think that improv was dying out and next week we delve into a topic I am very fascinated about and been tracking on here for a few years…

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