The AI-generated episode of “Seinfeld” enters the infinite metasphere

February 2, 2023

Co-creators Skyler Hartle and Brian Habersberger set out to create a “Netflix-esque” option to constantly stream an algorithm-based parody of the sitcom, complete with robotic laughter.

The sitcom about nothing has now entered the metaphysical realm.

“Seinfeld” has now found new life thanks to AI platform co-creators Skyler Hartle and Brian Habersberger, who founded “Nothing, Forever,” a non-stop parody of the Emmy-winning series on Twitch. “Nothing, Forever” debuted Dec. 14 and features lookalikes of “Seinfeld” characters Elaine, Jerry, George and Kramer with a laugh track and algorithm-generated dialogue.

“It’s an AI-generated sitcom… about nothing,” TikTok’s trailer describes the show.

“As generative media improves, we think you’ll be able to turn on the future equivalent of Netflix at any time and watch a show non-stop for as long as you want,” co-creator Hartle said. Vice motherboard. “It’s not just seven seasons of a show, it’s seven hundred, or an infinite number of seasons of a show, with fresh content whenever you want it. This has become one of our main pillars.”

He added: “Our bottom line was, can we make a show that will generate entertaining content forever? Because we really see the future here. Our goal with the next iterations or next shows that we put out is to actually replace a show that’s like Netflix-level quality.”

“Nothing, Forever” dialogue is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model. The dialogue and control of the scenes is entirely generated by the AI platform. The show may also change based on feedback from Twitch users via stream chat. So will the best jokes from “Seinfeld” be recreated on the AI version?

“The show can effectively change and the narrative really evolves based on the audience,” Hartle said. “One of the main factors we’re thinking about is how to get people involved in creating the narrative so that it becomes their own.”

Like “Seinfeld,” a Jerry-inspired character named Larry (presumably after Larry David) performs stand-up comedy to close out certain scenes, which has been a staple of the show.

“The real impetus for this was that it originally started as this weird, very off-center, nonsensical, surreal art project,” said co-creator Hartle. “But then we worked over the years to bring that to the new location. Then, of course, generative media and generative artificial intelligence have taken off like crazy in the last few years.”