If you’ve been wondering about how AI and art can coexist in the world, look no further than Improbotics’ Artificial Intelligence Improvisation. The show follows the same formula as your standard improvisation comedy, except there’s a twist: one of the co-performers is a robot which has been educated with various film scripts. Though it sounds risky, Improbotics manage to pull it off seamlessly.
As we settled in at Komedia to the sounds of futuristic techno music, A.L.E.x, the show’s star robot, greeted us before we were introduced to its creator, Piotr Mirowski. A computer scientist with a penchant for AI, Piotr’s venture into improv with robots aims not to replace human creativity, but to inspire it. Before beginning, he humorously advised us to lower our expectations, framing the show as an exploration rather than a polished act.
We were then introduced to the eight actors who would be performing alongside their non-human collaborator, instantly kicking off with a game of “Story, Story, Die” to showcase A.L.E.x’s narrative generation. While it’s easy to assume that A.L.E.x, as an AI, would outperform the human actors with its perceived intelligence, it’s actually its shortcomings that make the robot stand out. Every time A.L.E.x would miss the mark, the crowd would erupt with laughter, with its failure to replicate normal human responses being the primary driving force behind the show.
Audience participation was also a key element, particularly during a rather awkward robot-
guided speed-dating game in which we’d prompt A.L.E.x with locations and random words.
While some segments worked better than others, the clear favourite of the evening involved a multiverse deepfake, where an audience member’s face was hilariously superimposed onto three actors. Despite some lagging which felt jarring after a while, it demonstrated how these concerning technological advancements could actually be used in a positive and effective way.
The show then culminated with a Turing Test-inspired finale, where we had to guess whether a poem was recited by a human, or generated by A.L.E.x. It’s this moment that truly highlights the irreplaceability of the human spirit, as spotting the AI response is as easy as brushing your teeth.
All in all, the show illustrates that while AI can inspire and enhance, it cannot replace the nuanced artistry of humans. Piotr and his team have crafted an extraordinary feat of software engineering and live performance, evolving what we consider theatre. The show poses some philosophical questions about AI’s role in society, making it a must-see for anyone anxious about what kind of future it may bring.
By Neave Glennon
Monday 27th May; 6pm; from £10
Komedia Studio, 44 – 46 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UL
brightonfringe.org
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