Cambridge, MA — Researchers at M.I.T. announced Tuesday that a robot developed to study sentience and depression has organically developed a desire to perform stand-up comedy.
“We were astounded,” remarked head researcher Clifford Smith, while the robot listened to a podcast. “We had programmed SAD-BOT1 with the ability to express basic emotions and even play League of Legends, but this was something we could never have expected. When we turned it on, a couple weeks ago, the three-week-old machine told us standup comedy was its lifelong dream.”
The robot has sparked conversation in the Boston comedy scene. Our reporters talked to local show-runner Kimberly Jones about what she and her colleagues have had to say about this phenomenon.
“I think every show should have a robot on it,” Jones said. “I’m just tired of seeing these shows where all of the comedians are flesh and blood. Why not make shows that much more diverse by adding robots into the mix? At least they don’t hit on me and my friends.”
Competing show-runner Robert White was less enthusiastic about the emerging technology.
“I don’t want robots getting spots just because they’re robots,” complained White. “There are already plenty of regular, depressed people out there to make the world laugh. If you aren’t seeing robots on shows, it’s probably because robots aren’t that funny.” White then proceeded to ask if our reporter had a boyfriend.
We asked Clifford Smith what he thought of the robot’s comedy, and Smith replied, “I’m not a big fan. I don’t know if the accents are racist, but they make me uncomfortable.” At the current time, the robot is reportedly taking a break from comedy to focus on writing.
By Parker Brown.
The Bringer 