World Laughter Day 2025: Humour in the age of AI—What happens when machines try to be funny?

Laughter is often said to be the best medicine, but what happens when it comes from a machine? As we celebrate World Laughter Day, it’s a great time to dive into one of the more surprising areas of technology: humour created by artificial intelligence.

From chatbots delivering dad jokes to AI-driven comedy writers teaming up with real comedians, machines are getting better at making us laugh. Startups like Jokebot and initiatives from companies like OpenAI are breaking new ground, training models not just to converse but to tickle our funny bones. The emergence of AI humour isn’t just a plot twist from a sci-fi movie, it’s a trend that’s popping up in everything from marketing strategies to late-night comedy sketches.

Let’s face it, humour is tricky. It’s deeply rooted in culture, sensitive to context, and often hinges on emotional subtleties. Researchers have pointed out that getting AI to grasp the nuances of irony, puns, or satire is one of the toughest challenges in natural language processing. While AI can replicate joke formats or whip up “punny” one-liners, the art of true comedic timing is still a uniquely human skill, for now.

So, what’s the verdict on AI-generated humour? It’s a mixed bag of hits and misses. Picture jokes that sound like they were penned by your overly literal uncle, or unexpectedly deep digital reflections that make you chuckle and ponder. Whether it’s for bedtime giggles or a dose of comic relief from virtual assistants, AI humor is carving out a niche in our everyday lives.

As AI keeps advancing, one thing is clear: humour might just be the next step in making machines feel more relatable. While they’re not likely to take over the stand-up scene anytime soon, bots are learning to add a little more lightheartedness to our increasingly digital world.