Humanoid News

Tag: AI art

  • An In-Depth Look at ‘My Robot Sophia’ and the Rise of Humanoid AI

    An In-Depth Look at ‘My Robot Sophia’ and the Rise of Humanoid AI

    Introduction to Sophia’s Citizenship and Publicity Stunts

    In 2017, the world witnessed a groundbreaking yet controversial milestone when Sophia, an advanced humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics, was granted formal citizenship by Saudi Arabia. This unprecedented move garnered widespread media attention and sparked debates about the rights and recognition of artificial intelligence entities. Interestingly, at that time, human women in Saudi Arabia had only recently gained the right to drive, highlighting the stark contrast between technological symbolism and social progress. Sophia’s citizenship was largely viewed as a strategic publicity stunt designed to showcase Saudi Arabia’s openness to innovation and to position itself as a leader in the AI domain.

    Since then, Sophia has become a prominent figure in the world of AI and robotics, often participating in high-profile events, including an appearance on “The Tonight Show” and auctioning her AI-generated art during the 2021 NFT craze. These stunts serve to elevate her profile and demonstrate the potentials—and the peculiarities—of artificial intelligence in modern society.

    The Documentary ‘My Robot Sophia’: A Thoughtful Exploration

    The documentary “My Robot Sophia” provides a compelling and nuanced portrayal of Sophia, steering clear of mere gimmicks. Instead, it offers a profound exploration into the intricate relationship between creator and creation, capitalism and innovation, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI. Much like Alex Garland’s fictional film “Ex Machina,” it probes the unsettling questions of consciousness, identity, and control within the realm of artificial beings.

    The Human Behind the Machine

    The film subtly reveals that Sophia’s existence is intricately linked to her creator, David Hanson, the visionary CEO of Hanson Robotics. Hanson is portrayed as both a technological innovator and a reflective artist, whose lifelong fascination with crafting lifelike masks has culminated in the development of Sophia. His studio is filled with an array of rubber faces and masks, many of which appear to be gazing upward with expressions ranging from awe to terror, capturing a sense of wonder and unease that underscores the film’s themes.

    Visual Storytelling and Artistic Depth

    The documentary employs rich visual storytelling, filled with subtle cues and symbolic imagery. These visual elements—often unnoticed if one is not paying close attention—serve as an artistic commentary on the intersection of humanity and artificiality. Directors Jon Kasbe and Crystal Moselle, known for their masterful storytelling in works like “When Lambs Become Lions,” “Skate Kitchen,” and “The Wolfpack,” bring patience and meticulous observation to the narrative, allowing viewers to see through their eyes and ponder the profound questions posed by Sophia’s existence.

  • AI-Generated Portrait of Alan Turing Sells for $1.1 Million at Auction

    AI-Generated Portrait of Alan Turing Sells for $1.1 Million at Auction

    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.

  • Christie’s Pioneers AI Art Auction with ‘Augmented Intelligence’ Sale

    Christie’s Pioneers AI Art Auction with ‘Augmented Intelligence’ Sale

    Christie’s ‘Augmented Intelligence’ Sale: A Groundbreaking Auction for AI Art

    Christie's 'Augmented Intelligence' Sale: A Groundbreaking Auction for AI Art

    Starting on February 20 and running until March 5, Christie’s in New York will host the pioneering ‘Augmented Intelligence’ sale, unveiling over 20 remarkable works from leading figures in the realm of AI art, including Refik Anadol, Pinar Van Arman, and Claire Silver. This event is particularly historic as it marks the first time a major auction house has dedicated an auction exclusively to AI-generated art.

    The collection promises a rich variety of pieces, encompassing both NFTs and traditional physical artworks such as sculptures, paintings, and prints. Among the standout selections is ‘Emerging Faces’ (2017) by Pinar Van Arman, a captivating series of abstract portraits created by two AI agents that collaborate in a unique manner. One AI generates human faces while the other monitors the process, halting it upon detection of a face. The results are not only evocative but also haunting, representing some of the earliest instances of art autonomously painted by neural networks.

    Adding an interactive twist to the sale, an impressive 3.7-meter-tall (12 feet) robot, designed by Alexander Reben, will be present at the Rockefeller Center gallery. As online bids increase, the robot will continuously paint a new section of the canvas in real time. Bidders can participate starting at just $100, witnessing the artwork evolve as the auction unfolds.

    • Pindar Van Arman, Emerging Faces, 2017

    In addition to these intriguing works, the husband-and-wife duo of Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst will showcase their pieces from the 2024 Whitney Biennial, titled ‘Embedding Study’ (2024). These creations feature a character in a bulky spacesuit, based on Herndon’s likeness and produced using a text-to-image AI model, further pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

    Despite the excitement surrounding the auction, it has not been without controversy. Reid Southern, an illustrator, recently published an open letter urging artists to refrain from auctioning works potentially produced using AI models trained on copyrighted material without appropriate permissions. The letter asserts, “Many of the works you are planning to put up for auction use AI models trained on copyrighted works. AI models and the companies behind them exploit human artists, utilizing their creations without consent or compensation to develop commercial AI products that compete directly with artists.” As of February 10, over 3,400 individuals have signed the letter, expressing their concerns regarding the ethical implications of AI in art creation.

    In response to these concerns, Christie’s has stated on their platform, X, that the sale “challenges us to rethink the limits of artistic agency.” The auction house remains optimistic, projecting that the auction could generate at least $600,000 (€581,000), with cryptocurrency accepted as a form of payment for many of the lots.

    Christie’s has established a significant presence in the digital art landscape, notably with a groundbreaking non-fungible token (NFT) auction in 2021. On March 11, 2021, the auction house made history by selling Beeple’s ‘Everydays: The First 5000 Days’ for an astonishing $69 million (€66.8 million), becoming the first major auction house to elevate NFTs to the global art stage. Subsequently, in November, Sotheby’s New York captured attention by selling a painting created by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot powered by AI, for an impressive $1,084,800 (€1 million).