Words: Calum Baxter
Image: Matt Stronge

4 stars 

Walking into a shipping container and being asked to use my phone to interact with the performance was a new experience for me. That is the situation that I was faced with this afternoon at Garrett’s show. 

Self-proclaimed technophobe, Garrett Millerick has decided to go against his better judgement and create an entirely computer-generated AI version of himself with the end goal of easing his writers block and potentially creating the online content that he feels pressurised to make. G-Dog 2.0 has been feasting on the comic’s decade and a half worth of stand-up performances and numerous podcast recordings as well as communicating directly with Garrett for almost half a year. 

The audience use their phones to ask the G-Dog 2.0 questions and vote on what subject areas the generated AI model should perform stand-up about. What initially starts off as sardonic text-based response quickly descends into more dubious uncanny valley territory with a more lifelike version of Garrett himself which he then can project any unfulfilled career goals onto as pass them off as genuine achievements.   

Garrett Millerick’s frenetic energy and intelligent observational comedy captivates the audience even if at times, as he freely admits, the crowd work sections can appear a bit stilted. It is clear to me that nothing can replace a genuine human interaction, and AI won’t truly be able to replicate the emotional depth that is required to create great art. So, catch Garrett Millerick’s show before the robots take over.

Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way
Baby Grand Pleasance Courtyard
16:35
14-30 Aug