A painting of legendary mathematician Alan Turing by the AI-powered artist Ai-Da Robot sold for an impressive $1,084,800 (£836,667) at Sotheby’s, far surpassing its original estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. The artwork, titled A.I. God, drew 27 bids before a final sale to an undisclosed buyer, marking a groundbreaking moment as the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction.
The piece is a large-scale portrait of Turing, who is celebrated as the father of artificial intelligence and a pivotal figure in World War II codebreaking. Turing’s pioneering work laid the foundation for modern computing and AI, making him a fitting subject for Ai-Da Robot’s exploration of AI’s evolving role in society.
Ai-Da Robot, created by Ai-Da Robot Studios, took up to eight hours to complete each of the 15 portraits of Turing made for this project. Ai-Da uses an advanced AI model to speak and has previously contributed to dialogues on AI ethics, including at the United Nations’ Global Summit on AI for Good in 2023 and 2024.
Sotheby’s described the sale as a historic milestone in the art market, bridging traditional art with modern technology. Aidan Meller, director of Ai-Da Robot Studios, commented on the artwork’s significance, saying, “A.I. God raises questions about the agency and influence of AI in art and society.”
