I Got Roasted By Artificial Intelligence
I gave a TED Talk and I learned about AI. Plus recs for Polly Atkin on chronic illness, Josh Gondelman on the WGA, and phantom artists.
I spent the past week in Vancouver at the TED Conference. I gave a TED Talk on Thursday which will be out for everyone to see at some point in the next couple months. Being there to record the talk was a wild experience. A week of nerves, free snacks, and lots of conversations with fascinating people from all over the world. My fellow speakers and I spent a lot of time together practicing our talks, reassuring each other that we probably wouldn’t completely forget everything we had planned to say, and learning about each others’ work.
I don’t think it’s likely that I’ll ever again spend that amount of quality time with a group of people that includes war reporters, a nuclear physicist, Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. There were also lots and lots of AI experts. I had many interactions with them because they were everywhere. I heard about how AI is supposedly going to do everything from discover new planets to cure all disease to become some kind of superintelligent new species. Honestly, I’m skeptical. But I am also an English major who has been wrong before!
So after a long week where I didn’t have much time to write this intro, I decided to test out AI and see how it would do for me. I asked ChatGPT to “write a newsletter intro in the style of comedian Chris Duffy.” And it absolutely roasted me. This is like what I imagine one of my comedian friends would write if they were making fun of me. I love it. So, without any further introduction, or any editing at all, here is AI’s savage parody of me:
Title: The Art of Misadventure: A Guide to Embracing Life's Absurdities
Hey there, Substackers! Chris Duffy here, your friendly neighborhood connoisseur of chaos and curator of comedic calamities. Today, I want to dive deep into the delightful world of misadventure and why, contrary to popular belief, it might just be the best thing that ever happened to you. So buckle up, grab your popcorn (or your preferred snack of choice), and let's embark on this wild ride together!
Life, my dear readers, is a bit like a game of cosmic pinball. We're the ball, careening wildly through a maze of bumpers, flippers, and the occasional unexpected plot twist. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good plot twist? It's the moments when life veers off course, when the unexpected happens, that we truly come alive.
Think about it. Some of the greatest stories ever told are not about flawless heroes who effortlessly conquer every obstacle in their path. No, they're about the underdogs, the unlikely heroes who stumble, bumble, and face-plant their way through life's challenges, only to emerge victorious in the end. It's the messy, imperfect journey that makes the destination so darn satisfying.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we actively seek out chaos and calamity at every turn (though let's be honest, it does make for great material). Rather, I'm advocating for a shift in perspective. Instead of viewing setbacks as roadblocks, why not see them as detours leading us to unexpected adventures?
Take it from someone who's made a career out of embracing the absurd: life is far too short to take seriously. So the next time you find yourself face to face with a metaphorical banana peel, don't fret. Slip, slide, and laugh your way through it, knowing that the best stories are often born from the most unexpected moments.
And hey, if all else fails, just remember the wise words of renowned philosopher and accidental daredevil, Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." So go ahead, take a bite out of the unknown. Who knows? You might just discover that misadventure is the sweetest flavor of all.
Until next time, stay curious, stay courageous, and above all, stay weird.
Yours in chaos and comedy, Chris Duffy
I quoted FORREST GUMP?! come ON!!!!
On to this week’s list, curated by me, an actual human.
My projects and upcoming events:
LIVE IN LA: Wrong Answers Only at Dynasty Typewriter - Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30 pm. Get tickets now to join me for a hilarious night of learning and laughing with comedians Aparna Nancherla, Rob Haze, Guy Branum. We’re going to get into the history, biology, and cultural implications of MONSTERS with Dr. Emily Zarka. Tickets are just $5 for the in-person show (and you can also watch the livestream from anywhere in the world for free). Details here
LIVE IN NYC: Wrong Answers Only at Symphony Space - Thursday, May 23rd at 7 p.m. Phoebe Robinson, Josh Gondelman, Alison Leiby, and I are going to be making lots of jokes and interviewing Dr. Jessica Ware, the head bug expert at the American Museum of Natural History. Details and tickets here
PODCAST: How to Be a Better Human (TED/PRX) - Alexis Nikole Nelson loves nature and loves free food. She’s combined her passion into a career as one of the most prominent advocates of foraging. She’s so fun and I loved hearing her talk all about the ways to find edible plants, roots, and vegetables no matter where you live (including if that happens to be a huge city). Listen here (or wherever you get podcasts)
THE WEBBY AWARDS: How to Be a Better Human is nominated for a Webby Award and we’re currently in second place! If you have a second to vote (it’s free and easy) that would be very helpful! Here’s the link
This week’s list
GREAT:
“In her memoir Some of Us Just Fall: On Nature and Not Getting Better, Polly Atkin turns her poet’s eye toward living with chronic illness, imagining the experience as a sort of wilderness.” Jacqueline Alnes interviews Atkin about her work and they have a deep conversation about what it means to live in the world when you’re continuously dealing with anything less than perfect health. To Polly Atkin, “Diagnosis is Like a Wedding”
FUNNY:
Josh Gondelman is a delight. Relentlessly positive, supportive, and a staunch union member, he was the perfect choice to host the Writers Guild Awards this year. His monologue contains a few jokes that only work if you know the ins and outs of the entertainment industry (the gig is to perform for his fellow writers, not the general public) but the vast majority are just very funny jokes from a very funny guy. A+ Josh Gondelman hosts the WGA Awards
INTERESTING:
“Bad Dog, a group from D.C., was forced to take a crash course in streaming fraud, a shadowy realm that costs musicians $2 billion a year.” David Segal wrote this fascinating piece back in January and I think about it every time I listen to music online. I love an odd and seemingly inexplicable scam story. This one also ties into bigger themes about what it means to be an artist and to own your work when giant corporations control all the means of distribution. Their Songs Were Stolen by Phantom Artists. They Couldn’t Get Them Back.
BONUS FOR PAYING SUBSCRIBERS:
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That's it for this week. Thanks for reading! Please share Bright Spots with anyone you think might enjoy it.
Yours in chaos and comedy,
Chris Duffy
This has been Bright Spots, a newsletter.
…wait, who are you?
I'm Chris Duffy, a comedian, TV writer, podcast host, and both a former fifth grade teacher and a former fifth grade student. I’m currently writing a nonfiction book about humor for Doubleday.
ChatGPT is replacing “Autocorrected Texts” as an excellent way to amuse yourself - here is my experience. . .
https://ruleofthree.substack.com/p/rule-of-threes-foray-into-artificial?utm_source=publication-search
dear chris,
this is great and you are great.
the idea that you are a "connoisseur of chaos" is bananas.
but i will agree with this one: "who doesn't love a good plot twist?"
you've done it again! <-- no plot twist.
love you!
myq