The New Joke Thieves: AI Avatars Racking Up Millions Of Views
AI-generated stand-up clips are copying comedians’ jokes, voices and mannerisms, sometimes attracting millions of views while the performers struggle to have them removed. The trend raises concerns about credit, income and control over comedians’ identities, as online clips have become an important way to build audiences and sell tickets.
New York comics Olivia Carter, Olga Namer and Natalie Cuomo describe repeated cases of their material being used by AI avatars. Namer says a joke she spent nine years refining reached nearly eight million views through an AI version about a month after her own post drew around 520,000; one such account has more than half a million followers. The article says comedians may turn to direct channels such as email lists, but doing so could limit their reach to potential fans.
- AI avatars are copying comedians’ jokes and performances.
- One stolen joke reached nearly eight million views.
- Comedians face lost credit, income and control.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Comedians have a strong claim to control how their original jokes, voices and likenesses are used, particularly when AI accounts attract large audiences without credit or payment. If these clips divert attention from performers’ own work, they may undermine both their income and their ability to build a following, while leaving them with few effective ways to seek removal.
The case against
AI-made comedy clips can be seen as a new form of remix and online entertainment that may introduce audiences to comedic styles and ideas. Supporters of broad reuse could argue that limiting such content too heavily risks restricting creative experimentation and access to popular culture, while the reach of these accounts does not by itself establish that they reduce performers’ audiences or earnings.