“People who have visions should go see a doctor.” – Helmut Schmidt Helmut Schmidt’s skeptical view humorously underscores a common distrust toward visionary thinking. Yet, in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs) like GPT, “visions” -or as we might call them, “useful hallucinations” – can be immensely practical and insightful […]
Category: Improv
Exploring Time and Memory in Improv Theater with AI Models
As I delve into teaching large language models how to perform in improv theater, I’ve discovered an intriguing aspect: I’m learning a lot about improv itself. Many concepts that seem instinctive to us are quite challenging for a beginner like a language model. This pushes me to rethink and rearticulate these concepts so that a […]
Unveiling the Curtain of Secrets: How Improv Theatre and AI Embrace the Art of “Theory of Mind”
In the world of theater and sitcoms, secrets are the spice of life. They’re the juicy plot twists that keep us glued to our screens, making us laugh, cry, and occasionally cringe in empathetic embarrassment. But have you ever stopped to think about the delightful dance between characters and their secrets, both hidden from each […]
The Art of Extend: Deepening Stories in Improv Theater
Ah, the fearsome ‘extend’! If you’ve ever dabbled in the magical realm of improvisation theatre (or have tried your hand at scriptwriting), you’re probably familiar with the terms “advance” and “extend”. In a nutshell, you either move the plot forward, injecting juicy new elements, or… you linger. Now, why on Earth would you want to […]
Exploring the Use of Large Language Models in Improvisational Theater: Harnessing Personality and Memory to Create Engaging Stories
Introduction:Large language models have revolutionized the field of natural language processing, providing powerful tools for generating coherent and context-aware text. However, their primary focus has been on neutrality and objectivity, aiming to avoid personal biases and adhere to prevailing social and scientific opinions. In the realm of improvisational theater, this presents a unique challenge as […]
The Secret Ingredient of Improv: A Dash of Michelin-Star Wisdom and a Whole Lot of Spice!
You might have had that “Aha!” moment while taking a cooking class, sailing, or maybe even sitting in a 7-Eleven munching on a hot dog. Surprisingly, my moment came at a Michelin-starred restaurant in France, specifically in the pastry section, and it taught me a life lesson that changed my perception of improvisational theater. Yeah, […]
Remembering Keith Johnstone: A Tribute to the Gentleman of Improvisation
I’m deeply saddened by the news of Keith Johnstone’s passing. He was someone who likely impacted my life more than few others. I had the pleasure of meeting him, and he was a true gentleman. Keith Johnstone’s work on improvisation and theatre has been a significant influence on me. His ideas about spontaneity, creativity, and […]
Prompt: Backstory
Is ChatGPT able to come up with an improvised backstory and an improvised monologue? The following is a test if the system is able to do so. Create a short dialouge with Ben and Sue. Both are at home planning their holiday trip to the Bahamas. Add physical actions in brackets. Write a short emotional […]
Prompt: Replay
This is by far the most funny and clever thing I have seen from ChatGPT. I will include the first few prompts. The rest will be screenshots. I added the physical actions to give the system a chance to adapt them as well. Create a short dialouge with Luke and Pete. Both are at home […]
Prompt: Emotional Rollercoaster
Can ChatGPT change emotions in a dialogue? Is it able to end a scene properly? Hell, yes! Write five lines of dialogue between Jim and John discussing gardening. Both are happy.