“No questions!” – it’s one of the first rules we learn in improv. The kind meant here are dialogue questions: one character turns to another and says “Okay, and now what?” – questions that directly touch plot and story. And 90% of the time, the rule is spot on. Why do we ask these questions […]
Category: Improv
Beyond the Stochastic Parrot: A Test for Narrative Creativity in Large Language Models
A man kneels down on one knee in front of a woman. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. He looks up at her, takes a deep breath, and slowly opens the box. Inside the box lies a single – shark tooth. What happens next? That single question: what […]
Storyfinding: Why the Best Stories Are Found, Not Invented
“It’s easier to find than to invent.” This quote, often attributed to Nikola Tesla, captures something I’ve spent nearly 30 years learning on improv stages around the world. When I started out as an improviser, I believed great stories had to be clever. The more surprising, the more layered, the more elaborate, the better. I […]
What Improv Theater Can Teach Modern Leaders: A Psychologist’s Three Exercises for Better Teams
How applied improvisation builds stronger teams. Three exercises from Nicolas Bechthold’s chapter in “Der Impro Code” — and why agile leaders should pay attention.
Useful Hallucinations: How AI Can Dream Up Helpful Futures
“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 […]
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, […]