Summarised by Centrist
A portrait of King Charles III painted by a robot was unveiled at the United Nations in Geneva recently, marking a first for the British monarchy and the art world.
The work, titled Algorithm King, was created by Ai-Da, a hyper-realistic humanoid robot artist equipped with AI algorithms, robotic limbs, and high-tech cameras in her eyes.
Ai-Da’s creator, gallerist Aidan Meller, said the King was chosen for his “admirable and thoughtful leadership” and his interest in art and sustainability. Meller added that Ai-Da’s work explores “the tension between traditional and contemporary,” noting that it raises questions about the future of creativity in an AI age.
Ai-Da addressed the UN’s AI for Good Global Summit, saying: “Presenting my portrait of His Majesty King Charles III is not just a creative act, it’s a statement about the evolving role of AI in our society, and to reflect on how artificial intelligence is shaping the cultural landscape.”
Ai-Da has already made headlines by selling a painting at Sotheby’s for €1 million (NZD $1.95 million) and previously created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II titled Algorithm Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
