'AI can't write comedy', Tina Fey tells Edinburgh TV Festival

Tina Fey, the well-known American comedian and actress, recently spoke at the Edinburgh TV Festival about the future of comedy writing and the role of artificial intelligence. Fey, who became famous for her work on Saturday Night Live and for her portrayal of Sarah Palin during the 2008 US presidential election, shared her thoughts on why she believes AI cannot replace human comedy writers. She told the audience, 'AI can do all sorts of other terrifying things, like writing music, but so far, it's unable to be funny. ' Fey explained that while technology is advancing quickly, it still lacks the creativity and understanding needed to make people laugh.

Fey's career began with the Chicago-based comedy group The Second City, and she later joined Saturday Night Live, where she became a household name. Her impersonation of Sarah Palin was so convincing that some people mistook her for the real politician. Fey recalled, 'A French newspaper even ran a picture of me and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton, thinking we were the real people. ' She admitted that the attention was overwhelming at times, especially when Sarah Palin herself appeared on the show. Despite the fame, Fey remains grounded and focused on her craft.

The festival also discussed the upcoming UK version of Saturday Night Live, which will be produced by Lorne Michaels, the creator of the original US show. Graham Norton, who shared the stage with Fey, joked about the intense work schedule of American writers, but Fey revealed, 'You don't have to do it that way. You could start in the morning. ' Fey also talked about her experience creating 30 Rock, a show inspired by her time at Saturday Night Live. She shared a story about former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who once invited her to meet British TV writers. Fey declined the offer, saying she admired the British approach of making fewer episodes, like Ricky Gervais.

Fey described her latest project, The Four Seasons, as 'an exercise in restraint,' emphasizing the importance of realistic characters. She said that her own experiences at age 55 provide plenty of material for her writing. Fey grew up watching British comedy classics such as Monty Python and Benny Hill, and she named Absolutely Fabulous and I May Destroy You as her favorite shows from the past 50 years. She also expressed interest in returning to the UK to tour with Amy Poehler in their show The Restless Leg, which celebrates their 30-year friendship. Throughout her career, Tina Fey has shown that comedy is a uniquely human art, and she remains confident that AI will not be able to match the wit and creativity of real writers.