Key points
- Ai-Da's portrait of Alan Turing sold for an incredible $1,084,800 (excluding fees) at Sotheby's auction , far exceeding pre-sale expectations.
- Ai-Da is the world's first ultra-realistic humanoid robot , showcasing the integration of AI technology into the art market.
- Ai-Da's artistic process involves generating painting ideas through conversations and input from the studio team, combining technology and creativity.
A painting of the robot Ai-Da made history when it sold for $1,084,800 (excluding buyer's premium, or more than $1.3 million with buyer's premium) at a Sotheby's auction, well above its original estimate of more than $180,000.
Ai-Da, named after mathematical pioneer Ada Lovelace, was created by Aidan Meller with the collaboration of artificial intelligence experts from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham. The robot demonstrated its artistic skills by choosing Alan Turing as the subject for a portrait, addressing the theme of AI for good.
“This sale represents a significant milestone in art history, reflecting the growing influence of AI technology on the contemporary art market,” said Meller, the initiator of the Ai-Da project.
The portrait, titled AI God. Portrait of Alan Turing , was conceived by Ai-Da by studying Turing’s face using cameras and painting 15 versions. The final work, printed on a large canvas, blends digital and physical art through 3D textured printing. Ai-Da’s robotic arms added the finishing touches, with minimal studio assistance to ensure the work was completed.
Jean Dubreil