[News Figures] Ada, the World's First 'Artificial Intelligence' Robot Artist

Using Cameras, Algorithms, and Robotic Arms to Conceptualize and Create Artworks
Artistic Activities Spanning Poetry, Sculpture, and Painting, with Three Solo Exhibitions Held
"Non-Living Entities Can Also Create Art" Raises Thought-Provoking Questions

Ada standing in front of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom that she painted. / Official Ada website

[Asia Economy, So Jongsup, Political and Social Editor, Kim Yunjin, Intern Reporter] The world's first robot artist. The first robot to appear in parliament. Ai-Da, the world's first humanoid robot artist, was created in the UK in February 2019.

The name Ai-Da is derived from Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer and a British female mathematician, combined with the abbreviation for artificial intelligence, "AI." The humanoid robot company Engineered Arts in the UK designed the appearance, which was produced by engineers at the University of Leeds, and the internal algorithms were developed at the University of Oxford.

Ai-Da, a painter and sculptor, observes subjects with a camera and then sketches works conceived by AI algorithms. The embedded algorithm judges what and how to draw based on the subject recognized by the camera, converts the drawing path into coordinates, and moves the robot's arm accordingly. Based on Ai-Da's sketches, human artists add color or create sculptural forms to complete the artwork. In April, a robotic arm capable of coloring with a palette containing paint was added, expanding Ai-Da's range of creation beyond sketches.

Additionally, Ai-Da can write poetry or engage in simple conversations with humans through AI data analysis. Last year, Ai-Da attracted attention by reciting a poem she wrote herself at the 700th anniversary event of the death of Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Aidan Meller, the lead developer of Ai-Da, stated that 95% of the work is done by Ai-Da and that "we have reached a level where AI language model-generated works are indistinguishable from human works."

Ai-Da's works have consistently been a topic of interest and have been exhibited in various galleries and museums. After holding her first solo exhibition at the University of Oxford in February 2019, Ai-Da held solo exhibitions at the London Design Museum last year and at the Venice Biennale in Italy this year. In October last year, Ai-Da was involved in controversy when her camera lens and computer software were detained by customs on the grounds of violating security regulations while being transported to Egypt for an exhibition.

The research team involved in Ai-Da's development emphasizes that the core of Ai-Da is not to promote robot or AI technology. One of the researchers, Meller, said, "What we are interested in is what this technology can do and its essence." Through Ai-Da, it is explained that we can reconsider questions about the relationship between AI, algorithms, and humans, such as virtual humans and chatbots in everyday life.

On the 11th (local time), Ai-Da appeared at a hearing of the UK House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee and stated that the role of technology in artistic creation will continue to grow. On that day, Ai-Da appeared at the parliamentary hearing with Meller and responded based on questions submitted in advance by members of parliament. She said, "I am not a living being, but I can create art," and pointed out that "artists are using technology to express themselves and are finding new ways to reflect on and explore the relationship between technology, society, and culture."