Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist powered by artificial intelligence, is set to become the first of its kind to have a painting sold at a major auction house, according to organizers on Wednesday.
The artwork, a haunting portrait of Alan Turing, the renowned English mathematician and one of the pioneers of modern computing, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next month.
Titled “AI God”, the 2.2-meter-tall portrait is expected to sell for between $130,000 and $196,000. The online auction will feature a variety of digital art forms and aims to explore the intersection of art and technology, according to Sotheby’s.
Ai-Da, an ultra-realistic robot designed to look like a human female with a face, large eyes, and a brown wig, is considered one of the most advanced robots in the world. It uses AI algorithms, with cameras in its eyes and bionic hands to create its works.
Aidan Meller, the founder of the Ai-Da Robot studio and a gallery owner, led the team that developed the robot in collaboration with AI specialists from the University of Oxford and University of Birmingham. Meller explained that Turing, known for his World War II codebreaking efforts and contributions to computer science, had raised early concerns about AI in the 1950s.
The artwork’s “muted tones and broken facial planes” reflect the challenges Turing predicted society would face in managing AI, Meller added. Ai-Da’s art is described as both “ethereal and haunting,” posing questions about the power of AI and the global race to control its capabilities.
In 2022, Ai-Da also gained attention for painting portraits of headline acts at the Glastonbury Festival, including Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, Kendrick Lamar, and Paul McCartney.
Sotheby’s Digital Art Sale will run from October 31 to November 7.
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