For their study, the researchers compiled 14 years' worth of New Yorker caption ... This study revealed a significant gap between AI- and human-level "understanding" of why a cartoon is funny.

The weekly magazine, started in 1925, is using crowdsourcing algorithms for the first time to find the funniest cartoon captions. Scientists see big potential in these jokes.

A caption-less cartoon by one of the authors of “Funny Stuff,” Phil Witte. – Courtesy Image. While their book does discuss captions, types of humor, idea generation, and — watch out!

2. Actually study cartoons. This one may sound strange, but it’s true. Aaron Kozbert of the City University of New York found that being able to understand what makes a cartoon funny is related ...

Humor is both a creative and a cognitive process, says Bob Mankoff, who has contributed cartoons to The New Yorker since 1977. His memoir is called How About Never — Is Never Good For You?