Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - CMPT 419 D400

Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3)

Computational Humour

Class Number: 4904

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Frederick Popowich
    popowich@sfu.ca
    778 782 4883
    Office: TASC1 9423

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Current topics in artificial intelligence depending on faculty and student interest.

COURSE DETAILS:

Special Topics in AI: Computational Humour

Recent advances in Artificial intelligence (AI), and in particular in the areas of natural language processing and generation, how brought renewed attention to how humans use and understand language, and the role of computers in these processes. Language use has always been one the key aspects of what it means to be human, but language can be used in different ways to have different effects on people.  

One well studied area of language use is related to humour. What makes a word, a phrase, a passage or a story funny? Something that is funny in one context or situation, may not be funny in another. What one person finds humorous may not be funny to someone else.  What are the processes to create language that is funny? How do we recognize or evaluate humour?

 

Computational humour has a long history in artificial intelligence, and is now gaining additional attention with the wide spread use of various artificial intelligence tools in conjunction with an ever increasing amount of linguistic data.  This work can also build upon a large amount of linguistic information and knowledge about humour.

 

In this course, we will investigate issues related to the use of data, information and knowledge for creating and evaluating humour language use. Topics of discussion will include

  • Humour Studies
  • Humour Competence
  • Humour Performance
  • Applications
The course will involve a combination of lectures, presentations, readings, and discussions accompanied by exercises, a group project, and an exam.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

 

  • students will gain experience in analyzing research papers and presenting their insights
  • students will have a foundation of the linguistic knowledge associated with humour
  • students will understand the strengths on weaknesses of different computational techniques associated with language use
  • students will expand their knowledge on how to evaluate the use of AI in a human focused process

Grading

  • Exercises 40%
  • Exam 30%
  • Project 30%

NOTES:

Grading will be based on exercises, final project and an in-class exam. Details will be announced during the first week of classes.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

There are no formal pre-requisitites for this course. Students will benefit from having previously taken a course in AI or natural language processing (or have equivalent experience from internships, a research projects, or a personal project).

Example SFU courses:
CMPT 310 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CMPT 413 – Computational Linguistics

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Links to weekly required readings will be provided in class, as will links to any required resources.

REQUIRED READING:

Attardo, S. (2020). The linguistics of humor: An introduction. Oxford University Press.


ISBN: 9780191833717

RECOMMENDED READING:

Speech and Language Processing (3rd ed)
Dan Jurafsky and James H. Martin, 2026.
https://web.stanford.edu/~jurafsky/slp3/
ISBN: 978-0133252804

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.

  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a D or higher.

 

  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

 

  • Use of AI tools by students for completing graded scholarly activities and course submissions that has not been explicitly authorized by the instructor  will be considered as plagiarism under SFU’s Code of Academic Policy (http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-02.htm).  Following this policy, instructors will report all instances of plagiarism to the academic integrity board.  

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.