World’s first robot ARTIST is set to exhibit series of self-portraits

World’s first robot ARTIST named Ai-Da is set to exhibit series of self-portraits which were created while she ‘looked’ in mirror with her camera eyes

  • AI robot Ai-Da is named after the 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace
  • Capable of drawing people from life using camera eye and a pencil in her hand
  • Ai-Da’s work will be displayed at Design Museum in London from May to June 

A humanoid AI robot will exhibit a series of ‘self portraits’ she created by ‘looking’ into a mirror with her camera eyes.

The robot – called Ai-Da after the 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace – is the first ultra-realistic robot capable of drawing people from life using her eye and a pencil in her hand, according to her creators. 

Ai-Da’s work will be displayed at the Design Museum in London between May and June – if lockdown rules allow.

She ‘looked’ into the mirror and AI processes and algorithm programmes transformed what she saw into co-ordinates.

The robotic hand used by Ai-Da – which was developed by engineers in Leeds – then calculates a virtual path, interpreting co-ordinates to create the piece of art.

The robot called Ai-Da is named after the 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace

A humanoid AI robot (pictured) will exhibit a series of ‘self portraits’ she created by ‘looking’ into a mirror with her camera eyes

Ai-Da's work (pictured) will be displayed at the Design Museum in London between May and June - if lockdown rules allow

Ai-Da’s work (pictured) will be displayed at the Design Museum in London between May and June – if lockdown rules allow

Oxford art gallery owner Aidan Meller and curator Lucy Seal came up with the idea for Ai-Da.

Ms Seal said the self portraits are meant to be a commentary on the modern world’s reliance on technology in data-fuelled world.

He told The Sunday Times: ‘We live in a selfie culture but we are giving our data to [tech giants], who use it to predict our behaviour.

‘Through technology we are outsourcing our own choices.’

She 'looked' into the mirror and AI processes and algorithm programmes transformed what she saw into co-ordinates. The robotic hand used by Ai-Da - which was developed by engineers in Leeds - then calculates a virtual path, interpreting co-ordinates to create the piece of art (pictured)

She ‘looked’ into the mirror and AI processes and algorithm programmes transformed what she saw into co-ordinates. The robotic hand used by Ai-Da – which was developed by engineers in Leeds – then calculates a virtual path, interpreting co-ordinates to create the piece of art (pictured)

Oxford art gallery owner Aidan Meller and curator Lucy Seal came up with the idea for Ai-Da (pictured)

Oxford art gallery owner Aidan Meller and curator Lucy Seal came up with the idea for Ai-Da (pictured)

Ms Seal said the self portraits (pictured) are meant to be a commentary on the modern world's reliance on technology in data-fuelled world

Ai-Da

Ms Seal said the self portraits (left) are meant to be a commentary on the modern world’s reliance on technology in data-fuelled world. Right: Ai-Da

Ahead of Ai-Da’s first exhibition Unsecured Futures in 2019, Mr Meller said: ‘Pioneering a new AI art movement, we are excited to present Ai-Da, the first professional humanoid artist, who creates her own art, as well as being a performance artist.

‘As an AI robot, her artwork uses AI processes and algorithms.

‘The work engages us to think about AI and technological uses and abuses in the world today.’

Her old exhibit included drawing, painting, sculpture and video art, exploring the boundaries between AI, technology and organic life. 

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