Groundbreaking Auction: AI-Generated Portrait of Alan Turing Fetches $1.1 Million
A stunning portrait of the iconic British mathematician Alan Turing recently made headlines when it sold at auction for an astonishing $1.1 million. What makes this sale particularly remarkable is that the painting was created not by a traditional artist, but by a humanoid robot powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
This innovative experiment was spearheaded by Aidan Meller, a former gallerist based near Oxford, England. Meller collaborated with a team of nearly 30 individuals to develop the AI robot, aptly named Ai-Da, in homage to Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century mathematician often celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer. In her most recent public appearances, Ai-Da has been styled with a bob haircut and feminine attire, adding a unique persona to the technological marvel.
“I am trying to adapt to this slightly surreal moment,” Meller shared in an interview, reflecting on the emotional whirlwind that accompanied the final moments of the auction. The painting, titled “A.I. God: Portrait of Alan Turing,” portrays Turing as a deity of artificial intelligence and was featured in Sotheby’s digital art sale. Initially, the artwork was estimated to fetch between $120,000 and $180,000; however, it garnered an impressive 27 bids before ultimately being sold to an anonymous buyer from the United States.
Meller expressed excitement about the sale’s outcome, revealing that the proceeds will be reinvested into enhancing Ai-Da’s capabilities. “We plow everything back into the project,” he stated. “She is constantly evolving and improving; she is already on her third painting arm.” This continuous development highlights the dynamic nature of AI and its potential to revolutionize the art world.
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