George Carlin died over 15 years ago, but a new artificial intelligence-generated comedy special is bringing the legend back to life.
The AI icon is true to form with an inflammatory set featuring opinions on Trump, trans Americans, reality TV and tech.
The hourlong comedy special from Dudesy features an AI spin on Carlin’s takes on current events. Dudesy is an AI comedy platform from Mad TV alum Will Sasso and podcaster Chad Kultgen.
“For the next hour I’ll be doing my best George Carlin impersonation just like a human being would. I tried to capture his iconic style to tackle the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today,” a YouTube description written by AI reads.
It’s unclear if Carlin’s family is involved in the project.
During the stand-up special, Dudesy clarifies that Dudesy’s recreation is not the real Carlin and the content was created in the 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,” the AI impression said at the start of the set.
In April, NFL legend Tom Brady threatened to sue the pair of comedians behind Dudesy after an AI-generated comedy special featuring the former Buccaneers quarterback telling jokes, according to reports from CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated. The AI impression of Carlin also tackled the sensitive issue of gun rights activists’ intersection with transgender Americans.
“They say trans people make up such a small percentage of the population, that they shouldn’t get to have any input in legislation, even laws that will directly affect their communities and lives. Funny how that same argument doesn’t apply to members of the NRA,” the AI-generated impression said.
Dudesy also tackled billionaires, throwing shade at tech titans such as Tesla founder Elon Musk.
“I’d just like to say that as much as I think billionaires are destroying the fabric of society with unchecked greed and blatant self-interest at the expense of basic human rights for everyone else, it is a little strange to me that people get mad at them. People are the ones who gave them the money in the first place,” the AI Carlin said.
Everything from the special’s title, “I’m Glad I’m Dead,” to the subject matter featuring Carlin’s famed social commentary mimics the essence of the late controversial comedy star. Carlin died in 2008 of heart failure. In 2009, a posthumous autobiography from Carlin titled “Last Words,” was published. The memoir explored his rough childhood in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in New York, “rocky” 36-year marriage and rise to comedy fame.
