Salman Rushdie on AI, Laughter, and Why Authors Still Have the Last Laugh

Salman Rushdie on AI and the Future of Writing

Salman Rushdie recently shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence and its impact on authors. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, he expressed confidence that AI does not pose a serious threat to writers—at least not until it can write something genuinely funny.

Rushdie admitted he had never used AI tools himself and preferred to ignore their presence. His main critique was that AI lacks humor. “You don’t want to hear a joke told by ChatGPT,” he said. According to him, the moment AI produces a book that can make people laugh, that’s when things will change for authors.

Facing Life After the Attack

This appearance marked Rushdie’s first major UK event since the 2022 stabbing attack in New York that left him with severe injuries, including blindness in one eye. Security was notably tight, with police and staff present for protection.

Rushdie spoke about the closure he found after his attacker was convicted and sentenced to 25 years. Yet, he emphasized that the true closure came from writing about the experience in his book Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder. He said, “The closure was more finishing writing about it.”

Returning to Fiction and Storytelling

Looking ahead, Rushdie shared his excitement about new fiction coming later this year, calling the process of writing “like coming home.” He expressed frustration that conversations about him often revolve solely around the attack, rather than his work.

He reminded listeners that when he set out to be a writer, he wanted to create stories, not write about himself. “That seemed like the most uninteresting thing of all,” he said.

Thoughts on Politics and Literature

Rushdie also commented on the political climate, referring to the current period as an “orange moment,” a nod to Donald Trump’s influence. He acknowledged the surprise of Trump’s election but noted historical parallels, saying, “So was Hitler, by the way.”

He highlighted the importance of stories and fables in a time when people struggle to agree on what’s true. For Rushdie, books should be immersive rather than instructive. He joked that most writers don’t make much money unless they write about “child wizards,” playfully comparing J.K. Rowling to the “Taylor Swift of literature.”

The Long Road After The Satanic Verses

Rushdie’s life was forever changed after the publication of The Satanic Verses in 1988, which led to years in hiding due to death threats. The 2022 attack caused serious damage to his body, including vision loss and nerve damage. In Knife, he recalls the trauma in vivid detail, describing his eye as “a large soft-boiled egg” on his cheek, but also shares his journey of healing.

For writers concerned about the rise of AI, Rushdie’s perspective offers a clear takeaway: AI still lacks the uniquely human touch—especially humor—that makes storytelling resonate. Until it learns to make readers laugh, authors can hold their ground.

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