Sotheby's to put its first artwork created by a humanoid robot under the hammer

[Coloroscopio]

Sotheby’s is presenting a different kind of brushstroke to the auction block this October 31, giving art collectors a brand-new reason to bid. For the first time in its history, the prestigious auctioneer will offer a painting created by a humanoid robot. The work, titled AI God, is a portrait of Alan Turing—mathematician, computer scientist, and often regarded as the father of artificial intelligence—crafted by Ai-Da, a robot designed for creative expression.

 

Ai-Da, named after Ada Lovelace, operates with cameras in her eyes and relies on complex algorithms to turn visual inputs into generative images, which she paints using her robotic arm. Developed by British gallerist Aidan Meller in collaboration with AI specialists from Oxford and Birmingham universities, Ai-Da is more than a painter—her work engages with broader philosophical questions about creativity and the relationship between humans and machines.

 

 

AI God is being listed as part of Sotheby’s Digital Art Sale. The piece, which measures 64 by 90.5 inches, is expected to fetch a grand amount of between $120,000 and $180,000.

 

With muted tones and fragmented facial planes, the painting hints at Turing’s challenges and warnings about the delicate balance between AI’s potential and its ethical risks. The artwork was first shown at the United Nations in May 2024, where it appeared as part of a polyptych exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with technology.

 

Ai-Da, who is designed with human-like features, articulated the significance of her subject in a prepared statement: “By commemorating Alan Turing in my artwork… I aim to honor his contributions towards the foundation of modern computing and artificial intelligence.”

 

She also referenced cyborg theorist Donna Haraway, inviting conversation about what creativity means as the lines between humans and machines continue to blur.

 

Ai-Da’s creator hopes the proceeds will fuel further development of the Ai-Da project, which remains expensive to maintain. With interest in AI-driven art growing, the sale underscores the growing presence of AI in both creative industries and society at large—a trend Turing himself might have found fitting, if not unsettling.

 

 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sothebys-auction-ai-da-robot-artist-portrait/ 
• https://interestingengineering.com/culture/worlds-first-humanoid-robot-artist-ai-da-to-get-her-portrait-auctioned-soon 
• https://www.popsci.com/technology/humanoid-robot-art-sotherbys/ 
• https://www.dw.com/en/portrait-by-robot-to-be-sold-at-sothebys-in-world-first/a-70508473 

 

Opening image: Ai-Da