Humanoid robot's painting set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s, likely to fetch upto $180K

New York, United States

A painting made by the humanoid robot is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in a first and is likely to fetch up to $180K. 

This is the first time the famed auction house Sotheby’s will sell a painting created by a humanoid robot and it is likely to fetch a whopping $180,000.

The robot, whose name is Ai-Da, made a painting of renowned computer scientist and mathematician Alan Turing entitled “AI God” using its hydraulically powered hands.

Scientists have fitted cameras in the eyes of the robot Ai-Da and have also fed an internal language into the model, which is powered by artificial intelligence. 

This internal language helps the robot to communicate with people and compose poems.

“Through my artwork of Alan Turing, I commemorate his achievements and contributions to the development of computing and AI,” stated Ai-Da, while speaking about her more than 7-foot-tall painting to SWNS.

“Ai-Da’s portrait joins a selection of cutting-edge works that — in their individual ways — push the boundaries of artistic creation today,” said Michael Bouhanna, Sotheby’s head of NFT & digital art, in a statement to The New York Post.

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“Together, they prompt a discussion of how we can appreciate and experience the ever-evolving possibilities around artmaking in the 21st century," he added.

All about the humanoid robot Ai-Da

The humanoid robot, which has robotic arms, a fashionable bob haircut and a flesh-like face, has been designed in a way that it can turn into a performance artist, designer and poet.

However, it has not been empowered to walk and its creators have assured that it is non-conscious.

Ai-Da has been created by British gallerist Aidan Meller. In 2019, Meller created the bot in conjunction with Engineered Arts and the University of Oxford.

The humanoid robot's artwork has been featured at different places like the Chelsea Factory and the United Nations and Ai-Da has delivered speeches at 10 Downing Street, the House of Lords, and the Founders Forum.

“In the 1950s, Alan Turing raised concerns over the use of AI. Ai-Da’s portrait hauntingly evokes Alan Turing,” said Meller, in the statement.

“Both ethereal and haunting, Ai-Da robot’s artworks continue to question where the power of AI will take us, and the global race to harness its power," he added. 

This month, “AI God” will be auctioned by Sotheby’s as part of its Digital Art Sale.

(With inputs from agencies)