A Unique Auction: Alan Turing’s Portrait by an AI Artist

A portrait of the renowned British mathematician Alan Turing recently fetched an astonishing price of nearly $1.1 million at auction. This remarkable sum is particularly noteworthy considering the artwork was created not by a traditional artist, but by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

The innovative project was masterminded by Aidan Meller, a former gallerist residing near Oxford, England. Meller assembled a dedicated team of nearly 30 individuals to bring Ai-Da to life. In her latest exhibitions, Ai-Da is often portrayed in a stylish manner, complete with a bob haircut, and her name is a tribute to Ada Lovelace, a pioneering figure in computing and widely regarded as the first computer programmer of the 19th century.

Reflecting on the surreal experience of the auction, Meller stated, “I am trying to adapt to this slightly surreal moment,” as he recounted the nail-biting climax of the sale. The painting, titled A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing, depicted Turing as a deity of artificial intelligence. Initially, it was projected to sell for a modest estimate of $120,000 to $180,000 but drew significant interest, receiving over 27 bids before ultimately being sold to an anonymous buyer from the United States.

Meller emphasized the importance of the sale’s proceeds, revealing that the funds will be reinvested into further enhancements of Ai-Da’s capabilities. “We plow everything back into the project,” he explained. “She is constantly being updated. In fact, she is already on her third painting arm.”