# AI Steals Comics Jokes and New Yorker Signatures

> AI-generated women steal comedian jokes and New Yorker cartoonists' signatures without consent.
- Title: AI Steals Comics Jokes and New Yorker Signatures · AV Club
- Summary: AI-generated women steal comedian jokes and New Yorker cartoonists' signatures without consent. An AI avatar copied comedian George Brett Olson's jokes and…
- Keywords: comedian, george brett olson, new yorker, openai, cartoonists, signature theft, entertainment, culture, Steals, Comics, Jokes, Yorker
- Source: AV Club — https://avclub.com/ai-new-yorker-cartoons-stand-up-comics
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, comedian, george brett olson, new yorker, openai, cartoonists, signature theft, entertainment, culture
## AI Steals Comedian Jokes
Comedian George Brett Olson discovered an AI-generated woman stole his jokes, movements, and outfit color from his stand-up video.

> A working comedian had his joke stolen by an anonymous person who created a big-butted hot girl AI avatar, which then stole his jokes and dozens of others', monetized the theft, and ran an adult content side hustle.
## AI Monetizes Theft
The AI avatar amassed a massive following on stolen content and directed viewers to its OnlyFans page without violating Meta's terms of service.

> A working comedian had his joke stolen by an anonymous person who created a big-butted hot girl AI avatar, which then stole his jokes and dozens of others', monetized the theft, and ran an adult content side hustle.
## New Yorker Signatures Stolen
Nieman Labs found ChatGPT added real New Yorker cartoonists' signatures to AI-generated cartoons without their consent.

> ChatGPT has stolen the signatures of more than 15 New Yorker cartoonists, including Brendan Loper, Harry Bliss, Emily Flake, Pat Byrnes, George Booth, Liza Donnelly, and more.
## OpenAI's Secret Deal
OpenAI signed a licensing deal with Condé Nast in 2024 but trained on New Yorker cartoons despite being barred from doing so.

> In 2024, OpenAI signed a licensing deal with The New Yorker's parent company, Condé Nast.
## AI Threatens Cartoonists
Cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein warned AI could render individual cartoonists obsolete by stealing their work and labor.

> It’s an uncanny simulacrum of an impression of a joke, but it’s not the point for it to actually be funny or good. The point is that it’s trying to deal a death blow to labor.
## Microsoft Calls It Theft
Microsoft director Brent Hecht labeled AI training the 'largest theft of labor in human history' in court documents.

> Microsoft director of applied science Brent Hecht calling AI training the 'largest theft of labor in human history.'
## Key takeaway

An AI avatar copied comedian George Brett Olson's jokes and movements, while OpenAI generated New Yorker-style cartoons with real artists' signatures.