Rushdie on AI & Authors: Humor is Key
- speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales,Salman Rushdie addressed the potential threat of artificial intelligence to authors.
- The acclaimed author emphasized AI's current inability to generate humor."It has no sense of humour – you don’t want to hear a joke told by chatgpt," Rushdie said.
- Security was heightened, with police and security personnel present.
Salman Rushdie believes AI poses no threat to authors until it cracks humor. Speaking at the Hay Festival, the acclaimed author shared his viewpoint on artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of writing. Rushdie,who has never used AI,emphasized that the technology’s inability to generate genuine laughter currently protects writers. The article expands on Rushdie’s comments, his public life since the 2022 attack, and his excitement surrounding a new fiction release. Read more about this candid discussion on AI and the literary world at News Directory 3. Discover what’s next for the celebrated author.
Salman Rushdie: AI Needs Humor to Threaten Authors
Updated June 02,2025
speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales,Salman Rushdie addressed the potential threat of artificial intelligence to authors. Rushdie suggested that writers are safe from AI until it can produce genuinely funny content. He admitted he has never used AI adn prefers to ignore its existence.
The acclaimed author emphasized AI’s current inability to generate humor.”It has no sense of humour – you don’t want to hear a joke told by chatgpt,” Rushdie said. He added that a funny book written by ChatGPT would signal a important shift.
this appearance marked Rushdie’s most prominent U.K. event since the 2022 attack in the U.S. that left him blind in one eye. Security was heightened, with police and security personnel present.
Rushdie, 77, expressed satisfaction with the 25-year sentence given to his attacker, Hadi Matar, 27, for attempted murder and assault.Tho, he noted that writing about the experience in his book, “Knife: Meditations after An Attempted Murder,” provided him with greater closure.
“I’m glad that trial is over and done with. And that he got the maximum sentence. The closure was more finishing writing about it.”
He also shared his excitement about his upcoming fiction release, stating that writing it felt like “coming home.” Rushdie expressed a desire to move beyond discussions solely focused on the attack.
“Ever since the attack, realy, the only thing anybody’s wanted to talk to me about is the attack. And I’m over it. it will be nice to have stories to talk about.”
Rushdie also commented on the current political climate, referring to it as an “orange moment” in reference to Donald Trump, drawing a parallel to Hitler’s election.
he emphasized the importance of stories and fables in a world struggling to agree on the truth.He also joked about the financial realities for most writers, contrasting them with the success of authors like J.K. Rowling.
Rushdie spent years under threat following the 1988 publication of “the Satanic Verses.” The 2022 attack in New york resulted in severe injuries, including vision loss and nerve damage.
In “Knife,” Rushdie recounts the attack, his injuries, and his subsequent healing process.
What’s next
Rushdie is looking forward to discussing his new fiction and moving beyond the focus on the attack he endured in 2022.He hopes to re-engage with audiences on the power of storytelling and the importance of imagination in a world grappling with complex realities. The author aims to continue exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human condition in his future works, while also advocating for freedom of expression and the role of literature in fostering empathy and understanding.