Ai-Da, a humanoid robot artist, has revealed her latest work: a portrait of King Charles III. The unveiling took place at the United Nations’ AI for Good Global Summit.
Ai-Da was created by Aidan Meller, a modern art expert from Oxford. The robot was built by UK company Engineered Arts. She is designed to make art using artificial intelligence.
Cameras in her eyes take photos, which AI then turns into movements for painting and drawing. Ai-Da can also speak by using a language model.
Mr. Meller said Ai-Da’s artwork explores major global issues. He believes robots like Ai-Da can make people think deeply about themselves and the world. “It’s not until you look a robot in the eye and they say your name that the reality of this new sci-fi world takes hold,” he said.
The decision to paint King Charles came after discussions with Ai-Da. Mr. Meller said the King’s interest in technology and the environment made him a good subject. The portrait was approved by Buckingham Palace, even though Ai-Da never met the King. Instead, she used online data to learn about him.
Ai-Da has made headlines before. In 2024, her portrait series of mathematician Alan Turing sold for over £1 million. In 2023, she painted Queen Elizabeth II.
After six years of working with Ai-Da, Mr. Meller says the biggest surprise isn’t how human she is, but how “robotic” people can be. He hopes her art inspires important conversations about humanity and the future.
