Sotheby’s aims to make history this month by selling its first-ever artwork made by a humanoid robot. A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turig by Ai-Da is predicted to fetch six figures, according to the auction house. Bidding begins on October 31.
The Robotic Portrait by Ai-Da
In a controversial first, a major auction house is bringing a robot-made artwork to the auction block. Sotheby’s announced this week that its upcoming Digital Art Day Auction will feature art by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist. Ai-Da created A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing, which was first exhibited at the United Nations in May of this year. Turing was a mathematician and computer scientist who helped lay the foundation for modern computing and artificial intelligence. In 1949, he invented the Turing Test, which evaluates a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligence and behavior that is equivalent to or indistinguishable from that of a human. The 64-inch by 90-inch mixed-media portrait by Ai-Da has a pre-sale estimate of $120,000 to $180,000, as well as a third-party guarantee.
What—Or Who—Is Ai-Da?
According to its creator, gallerist Aidan Meller, Ai-Da is “the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist.” The robot, which was named for the historic computer programmer Ada Lovelace, can physically draw and paint using a combination of cameras in its eyes, a robotic arm, and AI algorithms. Before Sotheby’s headline-grabbing auction announcement this week, the robot artist previously captured media attention by making portraits of headliners at the Glatsonbury Music Festival in 2022.
Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox
Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterMeller described Ai-Da’s latest portrait as “different from other AI-generated works.” He told CBS MoneyWatch that “with Ai-Da there is a physical manifestation, and this is the first time a work from a robot of this type has ever come to auction.” He continued, “There is a lot of innovation happening—a huge number of robots are coming forward—and they will eventually do all sorts of different tasks. Art is a way of discussing the incredible changes in society that are happening because of technology.”
Sotheby’s Digital Art Day Auction
In addition to Ai-Da’s portrait, Sotheby’s Digital Art Day Auction offers “a wide range of works across the digital art movement” that the auction house hopes will equally entice both established and emerging collectors. Highlights include a selection of works from GRAILS: Property from an Iconic Collection and GRAILS: Starry Night, two notable digital art collections.
“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 and Digital Art, in a statement. “Together, they prompt a discussion of how we can appreciate and experience the ever-evolving possibilities around artmaking in the 21st century.”
