Ai-Da: The Ultra-Realistic Robot Artist That’s Making Waves in the Art World

A New Era of Art

LONDON: A portrait of Alan Turing created by a robot has been auctioned for more than £800,000 (RM4.7 million) and made history in the process, dpa reported. This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in the art world, as Ai-Da, an ultra-realistic robot, has become the first humanoid robotic artist to have its artwork sold by a major auction house.

About Ai-Da

Created by a team led by Aidan Meller, 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 £100,000 and £150,000, the artwork, “AI God”, far surpassed its predicted selling price when it was bought on Thursday, according to Sotheby’s.

The Artwork

The portrait, “AI God”, is a 2.2m-tall depiction of Turing, who is regarded as the father of modern computer science. For this artwork, Ai-Da chose three of the 15 portraits she had made of Turing, as well as a painting she had made of his bombe machine. These were then photographed and uploaded on to a computer, where the final image was assembled following discussion with Ai-Da, using her language model, about what she wanted the final work to look like. This final image was printed using a 3D textured printer, with Ai-Da adding marks and texture onto the canvas to complete the artwork. Studio assistants also added texture on to the artwork as Ai-Da’s robotic painting arm is unable to stretch to a large-scale canvas.

Ai-Da’s Vision

“The key value of my work is its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies,” Ai-Da said. “‘AI God’, a portrait of pioneer Alan Turing, invites viewers to reflect on the god-like 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’s Achievements

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 Queen Elizabeth ahead of the platinum jubilee, and became the first AI-powered robot to give evidence to a parliamentary committee discussing the impact of technology on the creative industries.

Conclusion

Ai-Da’s artwork, “AI God”, has made history in the art world, marking a new era of artistic possibilities. As AI continues to shape our world, Ai-Da’s creations serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What is Ai-Da?
Ai-Da is an ultra-realistic robot designed to look like a human female, which uses artificial intelligence to create drawings, paintings, and sculptures.
* What is “AI God”?
“AI God” is a portrait of Alan Turing, created by Ai-Da, which was auctioned for more than £800,000 (RM4.7 million) and made history in the process.
* What is the significance of Ai-Da’s artwork?
Ai-Da’s artwork, “AI God”, invites viewers to reflect on the god-like nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements.