Ed Byrne has fully embraced technology so much so that he has performed a new stand-up show using virtual reality (VR).
Fans were able to watch the Irish comedian via a VR headset, although the 50-year-old has brushed off fears robots will come after his job.
Ed performed the set at The Comedy Store in Soho, London, which was filmed using a 360-degree camera.
Shots included close-up views of the Just For Laughs host and clear footage of the audience watching and laughing, including those who did not laugh as well.
The Best Unseen Ads presenter ‘liked the innovation’ of the VR headset and is ‘surprised’ it has not been introduced into the comedy industry sooner.
Though it seems VR and artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially revolutionise the way fans consume comedy, Ed is confident that this technology will not take over his job any time soon.
‘I have no worries whatsoever about AI replacing stand-up comedy, he told the PA News Agency.
‘I understand the leap from VR to AI as a discussion point, but, no.
‘Just judging by scripts that have been written by Chat GPT and things like that, what’s funny about them is that they’re not that funny.
‘So at this point, I’m not overly worried about a robot taking over my job.’
However, the comedian is worried whether VR might prevent fans from attending comedy clubs.
‘I think the more pertinent question is whether or not VR would replace going out,’ he explained.
‘If VR is too faithful and captures the atmosphere too well, are people going to do that instead of going to stand-up comedy?”
He hopes the new medium will allow comics to perform hour-long sets and admits that he would be willing to attempt it.
Ed will perform at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August before starting his Tragedy Plus Time tour in September.
The tour is inspired by the loss of his younger brother, Paul Byrne, who died in February 2022 aged 44.
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