This spring, I stepped onto the stage at Berghs School of Communication, in front of 250 people attending the Unconference: AI event. It was my first-ever attempt at stand-up comedy, with a script and stage performance developed together with Frank, the AI stand-up coach I created just six weeks earlier with the help of ChatGPT.
The idea started as an experiment: Could AI help me do something completely outside my comfort zone? Like stand up on stage and make people laugh? And somehow, it worked. People actually laughed. Maybe not always where I thought they would, but they laughed. If I survived getting up on stage as a stand-up comedian – what else could AI help me do?
The following is a translated interview with me for Swedish JobTech about my stand-up debut:
“AI helped me step on stage” – a conversation with Emelie Fågelstedt
How can artificial intelligence not just make us more efficient — but actually help us grow as people? For Emelie Fågelstedt, AI strategist and sought-after speaker, the answer became surprisingly clear when she let ChatGPT assist her in making her debut as a stand-up comedian.
We sat down with Emelie to talk about creativity, courage, and why AI might just be your best training partner.
Olle: How did the idea of doing a stand-up performance — and using AI as a coach — come about?
Emelie: It grew from a mix of curiosity, a hint of underlying existential AI-anxiety, and a real urge to challenge myself. I work with AI every day, but I wanted to push it one step further. Could I use AI not just as a work tool, but as something that would help me dare to try something completely new? And what’s more personal than standing on a stage, trying to make people laugh?
Olle: What attracted you the most — the challenge, the humor, or the AI experiment?
Emelie: All three, honestly. But the AI experiment was probably the real driver. It was a concrete way to test what AI could actually contribute in a creative, deeply human setting. At the same time, it was a huge challenge!
I’ve been giving talks for years — but stand-up is a completely different kind of exposure. You have no slides to hide behind. It demands timing, vulnerability, and real courage. And maybe that’s exactly why it felt so irresistible.
Olle: Tell us about “Frank” — your AI coach. How did you build him, and what did he help you with?
Emelie: Frank is a fictional AI coach with patience, personality, and a constant supply of dry jokes.
Technically, he’s a dedicated conversation inside ChatGPT that I developed over six weeks leading up to my performance at Berghs. I shaped him gradually, based on my humor style and what I needed help with. He helped me brainstorm, write, structure ideas, sharpen punchlines — and maybe most importantly: He was always there, 24/7, gently pushing me to keep going.
Olle: What did the collaboration between you and ChatGPT/Frank look like in practice?
Emelie: It was honestly a lot like working with a creative partner. I could throw out a thought like, “Why does it feel like AI gets to be creative while I’m stuck doing laundry?” — and Frank would throw back five punchlines.
We brainstormed themes, built sections of the script, fine-tuned jokes — and I could be completely honest about what worked and what didn’t. It became a loop of inspiration, structure, and feedback. And it was a huge bonus to have a coach who never got tired — and who could handle whatever strange idea I threw at him, even in the middle of the night.
Olle: What surprised you most during the process — or on stage?
Emelie: How much using an AI coach actually pushed me to challenge myself. The more personal I got, the better and funnier the AI became. But also how much I learned about myself along the way. On stage, I was surprised that people actually laughed — for real! Maybe not always where I expected, but enough. It’s hard to practice timing in front of a screen, but somehow it worked. And that was probably the biggest win: Taking something from a crazy idea to real laughter, with a little help from AI and a lot of stubbornness.
Olle: Did AI make you think differently about yourself, humor, or courage?
Emelie: Absolutely. I realized humor isn’t about being the funny person — it’s about daring to show something vulnerable, something relatable. And courage, sometimes, is just about trying something without knowing if it will work. Frank helped me get there. Having him as a creative anchor made it easier to keep moving forward, even when I doubted myself.
Olle: You wrote that this was an experiment to see if AI could be a superpower — what’s your conclusion?
Emelie: I truly believe AI can be a superpower — but only if we dare to use it in unexpected ways. It’s not about replacing ourselves — it’s about amplifying what’s already inside us. In my case: a longing to be creative and funny in a new way. That’s where the magic happens.
Olle: What new skills do you think you developed through this process?
Emelie: I really trained myself to be more concise, clear, and rhythmic — which stand-up absolutely demands.
I became better at recognizing what’s actually a joke, and what’s just a thought. But more than anything, I developed a new kind of courage and confidence in myself.
Olle: How can others — especially in jobtech, startups, or the public sector — use AI in a similar way to grow personally or professionally?
Emelie: By seeing AI not just as a tool, but as a creative sparring partner. You can practice anything: pitching, hard conversations, writing scripts, testing new formats. AI can be a training buddy, a mirror, a sandbox — a way to explore new skills without risking anything at first.
Olle: Do you think AI can contribute to career shifts — and if so, how?
Emelie: Definitely. It lowers the threshold for trying out new identities. You can experiment with being a strategist, a poet, a comedian — without having to change jobs first. It gives you a sense of possibility — and that’s often the first step toward real change.
Olle: What’s your best advice for someone curious about “playing their way” into new skills with the help of AI?
Emelie: Start with what feels fun. Play around with it! Let AI help you pretend you’re already an expert at something you’ve always wanted to try. That’s where creativity is born — in freedom, not in pressure. And then: be honest with yourself. What feels meaningful is usually exactly what you should keep exploring.
Olle: I have to ask: will there be a second stand-up act?
Emelie: I originally thought this would be a one-time experiment. But I’ve already had a few requests for a sequel — and, to be honest, I’m kind of hooked. So never say never. After all, I still have Frank by my side.
With curiosity, courage, and an open mind, Emelie shows that AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency — it’s a superpower for discovering new sides of ourselves. Maybe that’s where the future’s greatest opportunities lie.
