Comedian and Edinburgh Fringe regular Tom Short returns this summer with a new show. I Get ChatGPT To Write My Edinburgh Show. Is there really a place in comedy for AI, or is it just part of our latest technological obsession?
“Award-winning comedian Tom Short attempts to become famous by outsourcing his Edinburgh show to artificial intelligence – and the audience. What could possibly go wrong? Blending stand-up, live tech and audience suggestions, this chaotic and unpredictable hour is reshaped nightly in pursuit of the perfect Edinburgh show. As the algorithm takes control, it spirals into something increasingly strange… and worryingly accurate. A sharp, funny and slightly unhinged take on fame, identity and the internet’s obsession with validation. “
Where: Nic 4 (Nicolson Square Venues) at Hoots @ Nicolson Square
When: 7-31 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tom-short-i-get-chatgpt-to-write-my-edinburgh-show
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
Tom Short: I Get ChatGPT To Write My Edinburgh Show is exactly what it sounds like on the surface, but underneath it’s really a show about fame, validation and who owns creativity in an increasingly digital world. Throughout the run I’ll be using AI as a creative collaborator, asking it to make decisions about the show, while simultaneously questioning whether technology is helping us create or simply reflecting our own desires back at us.
The idea came from watching the growing debate around AI and creativity. As a comedian and writer who has spent more than a decade developing my own voice, I became fascinated by the tension between embracing new technology and protecting artistic identity. Rather than writing a lecture about AI, I wanted to put myself at the centre of the experiment and let the audience watch it unfold in real time. The result is a comedy show that constantly blurs the line between performer, audience and algorithm.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
Imagine if a stand-up comedian handed creative control of his Edinburgh show to ChatGPT and then spent an hour arguing with it. Part stand-up, part social experiment and part existential crisis, Tom Short’s latest show explores fame, technology and the increasingly strange relationship we all have with the internet. Expect audience interaction, live AI decision-making, unexpected detours and a comedian desperately trying to prove he’s still relevant in a world where even the robots are creating content. Whether you’re excited by AI or terrified by it, there’s something here for you.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I absolutely love the Fringe. It’s one of the few places in the world where the weirdest idea you can think of isn’t immediately dismissed but actively encouraged. As someone who comes from alternative comedy and experimental theatre, it’s always felt like home.
One of my favourite memories was being part of Funz and Gamez, which won the Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize and a Malcolm Hardee Award. Watching audiences embrace something so joyfully chaotic was a reminder that comedy doesn’t have to fit into neat boxes. More recently, bringing my own work to the Fringe through shows like Succes and seeing audiences connect with deeply personal material has been incredibly rewarding. Edinburgh remains the place where the biggest risks often lead to the most exciting discoveries.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
The conversations. One of the things I love most about Edinburgh is that for a month the city becomes completely consumed by art and culture. Everywhere you go there are passionate people creating things, taking risks and sharing ideas, whether they’re performing to packed houses or six people in a back room somewhere. As an artist, there’s something really energising about being surrounded by that level of creativity.
I also genuinely love Edinburgh as a city. Every year I try to make time to explore beyond the venues and flyer routes, whether that’s visiting museums, art galleries or wandering around the historic parts of the city. Despite spending so many Augusts there, I’ve somehow never properly visited Edinburgh Castle, so that’s on my list this year. I’d also love to finally go on the Ghost Bus Tour. The Fringe is obviously why I go, but the city’s history, architecture and atmosphere are a huge part of what keeps bringing me back.
What’s next for the show?
At the moment, Edinburgh is the perfect environment for the project because it allows me to test ideas in front of audiences every day. The show is designed to evolve throughout the run, so I’m expecting it to change significantly between the first and last performance.
Beyond Edinburgh, I’d love to continue developing the concept into a larger touring production and explore how the themes could work across different platforms, including livestreaming and interactive digital formats. The questions the show asks about creativity, ownership and online validation aren’t going away anytime soon, so it feels like a project that has plenty of room to grow beyond a single Fringe run.