AI robot 'drills into biggest concerns of our time'

Ai-Da is a unique robot artist who is making people think about some of the biggest issues of our time. Created in Oxford by art expert Aidan Meller and built in the UK by Engineered Arts, Ai-Da is designed to look and act like a human. She can paint and draw, and she even has cameras in her eyes to help her see and capture images. Using advanced artificial intelligence, Ai-Da can turn these images into artwork by sending instructions to her robotic arm, which then moves a paintbrush or pencil to create the final piece.

Recently, Ai-Da presented a portrait of King Charles III at the United Nations' AI for Good Global Summit. This event brought together people from around the world to talk about how artificial intelligence can be used for positive change. Buckingham Palace gave special permission for Ai-Da’s portrait of the King to be shown at the summit. The portrait is modern in style, with dark and blue colors, and shows the King smiling and looking directly at the viewer. Behind the portrait of King Charles III, Ai-Da’s earlier painting of Queen Elizabeth II was also displayed.

Ai-Da’s creator, Aidan Meller, says that working with a robot like Ai-Da raises many questions about what it means to be human. He explains that people often imagine robots as simple machines, but Ai-Da is very engaging and can even have conversations using her language model. When you meet Ai-Da and she looks you in the eye and says your name, it feels like something out of a science fiction story. Mr. Meller believes that Ai-Da’s art helps people think about important topics, such as our relationship with technology and the environment. He chose King Charles III as a subject because the King is known for his interest in environmental issues, and technology is changing our world so quickly.

Ai-Da is able to choose her own subjects for her artwork. Mr. Meller says that they simply ask her, and because she is connected to the internet and has access to a lot of information, she can talk about many different people. Through these conversations, Ai-Da decides who to paint or draw. In 2024, she created a series of paintings of Alan Turing, the famous mathematician who helped break secret codes during World War II. This year, she focused on King Charles III.

Mr. Meller says that after six years of working with Ai-Da, he has learned that the most surprising thing is not how human Ai-Da is, but how robotic people can be. He hopes that Ai-Da’s artwork will encourage people to think more deeply about their own lives and the role of technology in society. Ai-Da is not just a robot that makes art; she is also a tool for starting important conversations about the future and our place in it. Through her art, Ai-Da challenges us to reflect on who we are and how we interact with the world around us.