A robotic artist has made history after an auction house sold her artwork for more than $1 million.
Ai-DA, which was dreamed up by Oxford art expert Aidan Meller, last night saw Sotheby’s auction off its AI God portrait to an undisclosed buyer for $1.32 million.
The piece, which appeared in the auction house’s digital art sale, was an original large-scale portrait of Alan Turing, the British father of modern computing.
With 27 bids, AI God made history after its $1.32 million sale surpassed an estimated price of $120,000 to $180,000.
It is now the most valuable work of art ever sold by a robot artist.
Ai-Da photographed with the artwork at the UN. His portrait of AI God auctioned by Sotheby’s to an undisclosed buyer for $1.32 million
Ai-Da created the painting using cameras in her eyes, artificial intelligence algorithms, and her robotic arm.
Ai-Da is named after Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. (Ai-Da at the United Nations with Princess Beatrice)
With her achievement, Ai-Da has become the first robot artist to sell her work at a major auction.
The piece, which appeared in the auction house’s digital art sale, was an original large-scale portrait of Alan Turing, the British father of modern computing.
The painting is now the most valuable work of art ever sold by a robot artist. It sold to an undisclosed buyer for $1.32 million.
Ai-Da, who uses an advanced AI language model to speak, created the painting using cameras in his eyes, AI algorithms and his robotic arm.
He said: ‘The key value of my work is its ability to serve as a catalyst for dialogue around emerging technologies. “AI God,” a portrait of pioneer Alan Turing, invites viewers to reflect on the divine nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and social implications of these advances. “Alan Turing recognized this potential and is staring down at us as we race toward this future.”
Aidan Meller, director of Ai-Da Robot Studios, said: “This auction is an important moment for the visual arts, where Ai-Da’s artwork focuses on the art world and social changes, as we grapple with the growing era of AI.” ‘AI God’ artwork raises questions about agency, as AI gains more power.’
Ai-Da is named after Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer.
