Grok brings Ha-Ha AI

Do non-human animals have a sense of humour? While laughter has been observed in various animal species, they don't quite exhibit the complexity of humour that humans display. Some may even jest that even among humans, a sense of humour isn't universally present. However, the new generative AI model called Grok, built by Elon Musk's company xAI, is designed to answer questions with a 'bit of humour and has a rebellious streak'. The disclaimer goes as: 'Don't use it if you hate humour.'

Grok draws inspiration from Douglas Adams' 1979 comedic sci-fi novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Ironically, Sam Altman, back as CEO of xAI rival OpenAI, displayed his sense of humour by creating a ‘Grok-like’ chatbot on ChatGPT using just one line of plain English, triggering a meme fest.

The sentiment that life ought not to be regarded with undue gravity is a common one. Wisdom often manifests in humour, especially during trying times. Albert Einstein, for instance, credited his remarkable intellect to retaining a child-like humour. Research has consistently drawn correlations between wit and wisdom.

One study in particular noted that individuals with a penchant for dark humour tend to possess higher IQs compared to those less inclined towards it. Creating and comprehending humour requires both emotional and cognitive acumen. The analysis also showed that funny people have higher verbal and non-verbal intelligence, and they score lower in mood disturbance and aggressiveness.

A good sense of humour also predicts higher mating success, perhaps because it reveals intelligence, creativity, and other ‘good genes’ or ‘good parent’ traits.

Humour’s significance vis-a-vis intelligence is also evident in cultural narratives, such as the folk tales of Tenali Raman and Birbal, known for their wit and intelligence. Similarly Zen masters are known to use humour and paradoxical anecdotes to convey deep philosophical insights. Contemporary cinema, like the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, utilises humour to explore profound philosophical themes.

A good sense of humour is a metric of high level of intelligence. Therefore, if Grok AI does have a great sense of humour, it may be considered more intelligent than its other counterparts and closer to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).

This development might lead to the creation of intelligent 'agents' with distinct personalities and characteristics. Echoing a scenario from the 2014 Christopher Nolan SF film, Interstellar, where astronaut Joseph Cooper suggests reducing the humour level of the robot TARS from 60% to 55% after a tiresome 'knock knock' joke, it seems a competition for supremacy in AI models is indeed heating up.

Recently, OpenAI launched a ChatGPT feature using which anyone can build custom GPTs or 'agents' using simple English without any coding skills. The emergence of such 'agents' is expected to diversify the spectrum of artificial personalities, with some excelling in cognitive intelligence and others in empathetic responses. In time, the integration of these agents could mirror the blending of human traits or languages, where offspring inherit attributes from both progenitors.

These composite agents might possess an array of distinctive and unanticipated characteristics, potentially surpassing human intelligence, wisdom, and humour. We may not only seek their company but also their guidance. Their humour would make them very attractive for humans.

The possibility exists that we might start to look for affection and approval from these highly advanced agents, elevating them to a near-celestial status. They could have access to extensive data about us, perhaps understanding us more deeply than we understand ourselves. In the quest for enhanced insights and a clearer view of our future, we might even voluntarily share our most confidential information with them. Ironically, we may not find any outlet to the unending human urge to give unsolicited advice, making us question the very purpose our existence.

Grok AI, while potentially encroaching on the territory of standup comedians with its wit, may also delve into the enigmas of the cosmos. Its capability to unearth new laws of physics is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, if it can deliver incisive and witty responses akin to Deep Thought -- the supercomputer in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which famously concluded that the answer to life, the universe, and everything is simply '42' -- we would be quite entertained.

(The writer is an IRS officer. Views are personal)