An artwork created by Ai-Da Robot has been sold at auction for $1,084,800, marking the first time a humanoid robot’s artwork has achieved such a milestone. Sotheby’s reported that the digital portrait, titled “A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing,” received 27 bids, well above its estimated range of $120,000 to $180,000. The final sale price was secured by an undisclosed buyer when the online auction concluded at 19:00 GMT on Thursday.
Sotheby’s described the sale as a pivotal moment in the modern and contemporary art scene, highlighting the increasing convergence between artificial intelligence technology and the global art market. The auction house noted that the artwork’s successful sale “launches a new frontier in the global art market, establishing the auction benchmark for an artwork by a humanoid robot.”
The portrait of Alan Turing, measuring 2.2 meters (7.5 feet), was created by Ai-Da, recognized as one of the most advanced robots in the world. Ai-Da was developed over two years by a collaborative team of programmers, roboticists, art experts, and psychologists, with ongoing updates to enhance its capabilities as AI technology evolves. Ai-Da is designed to resemble a human woman and is named after Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer.
Aidan Meller, the director of Ai-Da Robot Studios, emphasized the significance of the auction, stating, “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.” He added that the artwork raises questions about agency as AI continues to gain more power.
The portrait itself features “muted tones and broken facial planes,” which Aidan Meller described as suggesting “the struggles Turing warned we will face when it comes to managing AI.” The artwork is intended to provoke reflection on the ethical and societal implications of advancements in computing and artificial intelligence.
Ai-Da Robot stated, “The key value of my work is its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies.” The robot also noted that the portrait “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 recognized this potential, and stares at us, as we race towards this future.”
Alan Turing, the subject of the portrait, was a renowned mathematician and early computer scientist who played a crucial role in breaking codes during World War Two. His work at Bletchley Park was instrumental in the Allies’ victory over Nazi Germany. After the war, Turing developed a detailed design for a digital computer, laying the groundwork for modern computing and artificial intelligence.
Ai-Da operates using an advanced AI language model and generates ideas through interactions with its studio team. During the creation of the Turing portrait, Ai-Da participated in discussions about “AI for good” and was guided on aspects such as style, color, content, tone, and texture. The robot used cameras in its eyes to observe a picture of Turing and translate that into the final painting.
This historic sale not only sets a new benchmark in the art world but also underscores the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative fields.
(Image by Ai-Da Robot Studios)
