LONDON: Ai-Da, a humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence, is set to make history as the first of its kind to have a painting sold at a major auction house, organizers announced on Wednesday.
The artwork, scheduled to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next month, is a “haunting” portrait of the renowned English mathematician Alan Turing, one of the pioneers of modern computing.
Titled “AI God,” the 2.2-meter (7.5 ft) tall portrait is estimated to sell for between £100,000 and £150,000 ($130,000 to $196,000). The online auction, showcasing various digital art forms, aims to explore the intersection of art and technology, according to Sotheby’s.
Ai-Da is designed to resemble a human female, featuring a face, large eyes, and a brown wig, and is among the most advanced robots in the world. It utilizes AI algorithms and is equipped with cameras in its eyes and bionic hands.
Aidan Meller, gallery owner and founder of the Ai-Da Robot studio, led the team that developed Ai-Da in collaboration with artificial intelligence specialists from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham.
Meller highlighted Turing’s concerns about the use of AI in the 1950s, noting that the artwork’s “muted tones and broken facial planes” reflect the challenges Turing warned society would face in managing AI.
He described Ai-Da’s creations as “ethereal and haunting,” emphasizing that they provoke questions about the future of AI and the global race to harness its capabilities.
In 2022, Ai-Da painted portraits of headlining acts at the Glastonbury Festival, including Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, Kendrick Lamar, and Paul McCartney.
Sotheby’s Digital Art Sale will take place from October 31to November 7.