sothebSotheby’s is set to hold its inaugural auction of a painting created by a robot later this month as part of its “digital art day” event.
Highlighting the auction will be “AI God,” a portrait of the legendary mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, crafted by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist. Turing played a pivotal role in cryptography during World War II, particularly in breaking the German Enigma code, and is often hailed as the father of modern computing. His 1949 “Turing test” remains a cornerstone of contemporary artificial intelligence.
The mixed-media painting, measuring 64 by 90.5 inches, was produced by Ai-Da earlier this year and is expected to sell for between $120,000 and $180,000 at the auction, which begins on October 31.
Meet Ai-Da, the Humanoid Robot Artist
The Ai-Da Robot Project, conceived by U.K. gallery owner Aiden Meller, has resulted in Ai-Da being referred to as female by her creators. She utilizes cameras in her eyes, a robotic arm, and an AI algorithm to generate her artistic works. According to her creators, “As a machine that integrates electronic, AI, and human inputs, her composite persona becomes part of the artwork, alongside her drawings, performance art, and collaborative paintings and sculptures.”
Ai-Da was developed in 2019 and has previously showcased her work at prestigious venues such as the University of Oxford and the Venice Biennale. The portrait “AI God” made its debut in May at the United Nations.
In discussing her artwork, Ai-Da stated, “By commemorating Alan Turing in my artwork, which was displayed at the United Nations, I aim to honor his contributions to the foundation of modern computing and artificial intelligence.”
