The artwork, titled ‘AI God,’ will be the first piece created by a humanoid robot to be sold at a major auction house, with Sotheby’s estimating its value at up to £150,000.
Created in 2019, Ai-Da employs high-tech cameras in her eyes, AI algorithms, and a specialized robotic arm to produce artwork. The Turing portrait, which was previously exhibited at the United Nations in May 2024, emerged from an AI-driven creative process that begins with the robot’s language model suggesting subjects and concludes with human assistance in combining preliminary sketches.
“I am really pleased to have my artwork in the Sotheby’s auction and I hope it inspires discussion about new technology,” Ai-Da stated during a video interview with Euronews.
The robot artist has already gained international recognition, with exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and London’s Design Museum.
Aidan Meller, Ai-Da’s creator, explained the portrait’s provocative title: “This portrait is provocatively titled ‘AI God.’ The name reflects a major shift happening now: decisions are moving from human control… to algorithms increasingly making choices for us.”
The artwork aims to spark ethical discussions about AI’s growing influence. Meller acknowledges Ai-Da’s controversial status in the art world, noting that reactions range from excitement about future possibilities to fear about technological advancement.
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Ai-Da has contributed to technological discourse through a TEDx talk at Oxford University and historic testimony before the House of Lords in 2022, establishing herself as a unique voice in discussions about AI’s impact on society.
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