Do works produced by robots with artificial intelligence (AI) have value in human eyes? The answer is yes after a painting titled “AI God” painted by the robot Ai.Da was auctioned for $1.32 million by Sotheby's last weekend.
This is a far higher price than Sotheby's original estimate of $180,000. AI God consists of five portraits of Alan Turing who was a mathematician who was given the title of Father of Theoretical Computer Science. He developed an early computer algorithm that successfully cracked the secret code of the Enigma encryption machine used by Germany during World War II.
The Ai-Da robot uses cameras and algorithms to produce five abstract paintings that were first shown during the AI for Good Summit at the United Nations building in Geneva last May. The identity of the buyer has not yet been revealed but a total of 27 bids were made during the auction.
AI God is not the only painting that Ai.Da has produced. Previously, he also produced portraits of himself and the late Queen of England. Only AI God has been successfully sold so far.