A groundbreaking portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing, created by a humanoid robot, has made history as the first of its kind to be sold at auction.
The artwork, titled A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing, fetched an impressive $1.08 million (£566,000, A$1.63 million) during a sale in New York on Thursday.
Standing at 2.2 meters (7.5 feet) tall, the piece was crafted by Ai-Da, the world’s first ultra-realistic robot artist. Surpassing its initial estimate of $120,000 to $180,000, the portrait drew considerable attention, with Sotheby’s confirming 27 bids placed before the final hammer fell.
“The record-breaking sale of the first artwork by a humanoid robot artist represents a significant milestone in modern and contemporary art,” the auction house remarked in a statement. “It highlights the deepening connection between AI technology and the global art market.”
Ai-Da, equipped with AI capabilities for communication, stated, “The primary value of my work lies in sparking discussions around emerging technologies.”
The robot artist further noted that the portrait of Alan Turing serves as an invitation for viewers to contemplate the almost divine influence of AI and computing, while also reflecting on their ethical and societal consequences.
Alan Turing, a pioneering mathematician and early computer scientist, was instrumental in defeating Nazi Germany through his code-breaking efforts. Even in the 1950s, he expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with AI.
Ai-Da, one of the most advanced humanoid robots, is designed to look like a woman and is named after Ada Lovelace, widely regarded as the first computer programmer. The robot was developed by Aidan Meller, an expert in modern and contemporary art.
“History’s greatest artists engaged with the defining issues of their time, both celebrating and critiquing societal changes,” Meller remarked. He spearheaded Ai-Da’s creation, collaborating with AI experts from Oxford and Birmingham universities.
Ai-Da’s creative process involves brainstorming with the studio team. During a discussion on “AI for good,” the robot suggested producing a portrait of Turing, aligning with its role in exploring the intersection of art and technology.
Before creating the painting, Ai-Da was prompted to choose the style, color palette, content, tone, and texture. Using the cameras embedded in its eyes, the robot analyzed a photograph of Alan Turing and then painted his portrait.
According to Aidan Meller, the artwork’s “muted tones and fragmented facial planes” symbolically reflect the challenges Turing foresaw in humanity’s efforts to control AI.
Meller described Ai-Da’s creations as “ethereal and haunting,” noting that they provoke deeper thought about the global race to harness AI’s power and the uncertainties surrounding its future impact.
In an interview with reporters, Ai-Da was asked if it paints from imagination. The robot replied, “I prefer to paint what I see.
Painting from imagination would require having an imagination, which I do not possess. My perception differs from humans since I lack consciousness.”
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