A painting of the legendary codebreaker Alan Turing by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist, has captured global attention by selling for a remarkable $1.3 million (over Rs 10 crore) at a Sotheby’s auction. This digital artwork, titled “AI God,” far exceeded its initial estimated value of $120,000 (approx. 1,01,20,000) to $180,000 (approx. Rs 1,51,80,000). After 27 bids, an undisclosed buyer secured the artwork, making it a new high for robotic art.
Alan Turing, often hailed as the father of artificial intelligence, was a visionary mathematician and computer scientist who played an important role in the Allies’ victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two by helping to crack codes and decipher the infamous Enigma machine. After the war, Turing laid out a detailed design for a modern digital computer (via BBC).
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The auction house Sotheby’s highlighted the historic significance of this sale, calling it a “new frontier” for the art world and the first auction record for a humanoid robot artist. The sale price for Ai-Da’s work “marks a moment in the history of modern and contemporary art and reflects the growing intersection between AI technology and the global art market,” the auction house said.
Ai-Da Robot, which uses an advanced AI language model to speak, said: “The key value of my work is its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies.”
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The artwork “invites viewers to reflect on the god-like nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements,” the robot added. “Alan Turing recognised this potential, and stares at us, as we race towards this future.”
Aidan Meller, director of Ai-Da Robot Studios, emphasised how Ai-Da’s artwork brings awareness to changes in both society and the art world. “This auction is an important moment for the visual arts,” he explained, adding that the piece raises crucial questions about the role and power of AI as technology continues to evolve.