LONDON (AFP) – Ai-Da, the world’s first humanoid robot artist powered by artificial intelligence, is set to make history by selling a painting at a major auction house. The artwork, a “haunting” portrait of British mathematician Alan Turing—one of the pioneers of modern computing—will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next month.
Titled “God of Artificial Intelligence,” the striking 2.2-meter (7.5-foot) portrait is expected to attract bids between £100,000 and £150,000 ($130,000 to $196,000). Sotheby’s will host the online auction featuring various digital art forms that explore the convergence of art and technology.
Ai-Da, designed to resemble a human woman with realistic features, is among the most advanced robots globally, equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms, cameras in its eyes, and bionic hands. Aidan Mellor, gallery owner and founder of Ai-Da Robotics Studio, led a collaborative effort with experts from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham to develop the robot.
Mellor noted that Turing, a notable codebreaker during World War II, had voiced concerns about artificial intelligence in the 1950s. He described the artwork’s “soft tones and broken facial planes” as a reflection of Turing’s caution regarding the challenges of managing AI. He further remarked that Ai-Da’s creations are “ethereal and haunting,” prompting contemplation about the future of artificial intelligence and the global pursuit to harness its potential.
In 2022, Ai-Da showcased her talents by painting portraits of major performers at the Glastonbury Festival, including Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney. Sotheby’s digital art auction is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 7.
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