Sotheby’s Will Auction First Artwork Made by Humanoid Robot Using AI

Sotheby’s will auction its first artwork made by a humanoid robot using artificial intelligence algorithms.

On October 31, the auction house will sell A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing (2024) by the humanoid robot artist Ai-Da. The portrait of mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing was created using Ai-Da Robot’s AI algorithms.

U.K.-based art dealer and gallery owner Aidan Meller created the Ai-Da humanoid robot, depicted as a woman with a black bob and dressed in a t-shirt and denim overalls. The robot draws and paints through a combination of cameras in its eyes, AI algorithms and a robotic arm.

The 64-inch by 90-inch mixed media on canvas has an estimate of $120,000 to $180,000, with a third-party guarantee.

“What makes this work of art different from other AI-generated works is 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,” Meller told CBS MoneyWatch, which first reported the news of the sale. 

Meller also said the Sotheby’s auction of A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing highlights the rise and benefits of AI.

“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,” Meller told CBS, noting the proceeds of the sale will be reinvested in the project, which is expensive to power.

“Ai-Da’s portrait joins a selection of cutting-edge works that — in their individual ways — push the boundaries of artistic creation today. Together, they prompt a discussion of how we can appreciate and experience the ever-evolving possibilities around artmaking in the 21st century,” Sotheby’s vice president and head of digital art Michael Bouhanna said in a statement to CBS.

ARTnews reached out to Sotheby’s for additional comment, but did not hear back by publication time.

A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing was exhibited at the AI for Good Global Summit at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland earlier this year in May “as part of a five paneled Polyptych.”

In addition to the portrait by the humanoid robot, Sotheby’s digital art sale on October 31 will include works by Refik Anadol, PAK, Xcopy, DesLucrece, and other digital artists.