AI bots are reposting comedians’ jokes and using fake avatars to sell adult pages

In short: AI-made social media accounts are copying stand-up jokes almost word for word, often from women comedians, and using sexualized fake performers to attract views and sell subscriptions.

What's going on

A new report describes a growing pattern on social media, AI-generated “comedians” repost short stand-up clips using fake women performers. These accounts often repeat jokes nearly word for word, including pauses and filler words like “um” and “ah.” The videos are then used to pull viewers toward adult subscription sites such as Fanvue and OnlyFans.

The investigation identified eight comedians whose material was copied. One example involved comedian Julia Jasunas, who said her joke was reproduced in extreme detail. Other comedians named in reporting include Olivia Carter, George Brett Olson, and Natalie Cuomo.

Some of the copying accounts reportedly gained hundreds of thousands of followers. In at least one case, a bot account had more followers than the comedian whose joke it reused. Commenters sometimes appeared to believe the AI performer was a real person, which can blur who actually wrote and developed the material.

What to watch

Stopping these accounts can be difficult. Platform rules about impersonation do not always cover copying a routine, and stand-up jokes can be hard to protect under copyright law. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has said banning AI content is not practical, and some comedians say they received little or no help from platforms.

The bigger issue may be what audiences learn to reward. If people keep liking and sharing a polished imitation, it can pull attention and income away from working comics, and it may make comedians more cautious about posting new material online.

Source: NYTimes