Robot makes history as humanoid’s art sells at auction

The Ai-Da Robot in front of its AI-created A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing artwork. (Photo: Sotheby’s)

By Hannah Roberts in London

A portrait of Alan Turing created by a robot has been auctioned for more than $A1.6 million and made history in the process.

Ai-Da Robot, named after Ada Lovelace, who is considered to be the first computer programmer, has become the first humanoid robotic artist to have its artwork sold by a major auction house.

Created by Ai-Da Robot Studios, Ai-Da is an ultra-realistic robot designed to look like a human female, which has cameras in its eyes and uses artificial intelligence to create drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Estimated to sell for between Stg100,000 to Stg150,000, the artwork, AI God, far surpassed its predicted selling price when it was bought for Stg835,500 ($A1.62 million) on Thursday.

The large-scale portrait, which stands 2.2 metres tall and was created using AI algorithms, depicts Turing, who is regarded as the father of modern computer science.

“The key value of my work is its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies,” Ai-Da Robot said.

“AI God, a portrait of pioneer Alan Turing, invites viewers to reflect on the godlike nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements.

“Alan Turing recognised this potential, and stares at us, as we race towards this future.”

Ai-Da Robot Studios director Aidan Meller said: “This auction is an important moment for the visual arts, where Ai-Da’s artwork brings focus on artworld and societal changes, as we grapple with the rising age of AI.

“The artwork AI God raises questions about agency as AI gains more power.”

In 2022, Ai-Da painted portraits of the acts headlining Glastonbury Festival: Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, Kendrick Lamar and Paul McCartney.

The same year the robot painted a portrait of the Queen before the platinum jubilee and became the first AI-powered robot to give evidence to a parliamentary committee which discussed the impact of technology on the creative industries.

The portrait was part of Sotheby’s Digital Art Sale.

First published at Canberra City News, via AAP, November 8, 2024