Sotheby's did not miss the opportunity to underline the historic significance of the event, declaring that the record price represents "a moment in the history of modern and contemporary art". The press release, not surprisingly, immediately emphasizes the intersection between technology and the art market, two worlds that are increasingly getting closer. But what does Ai-Da, the machine that created this work, really think? The answer comes directly from its "voice" (generated by artificial intelligence): "The key value of my work is its ability to act as a catalyst for dialogue on emerging technologies", says the robot-artist. And she adds: "A portrait of the pioneer Alan Turing invites viewers to reflect on the divine nature of artificial intelligence, considering the ethical and social implications of these advances". Words from a textbook of philosophy of technology, there's no doubt about it.
Turing, after all, had already raised special lead questions about the use of AI in the 1950s, when he imagined scenarios that today seem almost prophetic. How would he react, today, to a robot that paints his face? Isn't this perhaps a greater paradox than he could have conceived?
Ai-Da: An “Unconscious” Artist
Ai-Da is not just any robot. Designed by gallery owner Aidan Meller, the project is based on a fusion of high technology and art. The name itself, Ai-Da, is a tribute to Ada Lovelace, the late 19th century mathematician and programmer , who many consider the first “computer programmer” in history. Unlike a common robot, Ai-Da is equipped with an extraordinary ability: through artificial intelligence, it dialogues and interacts with human beings, a bit like a real person (but without the annoying part of consciousness).