Robot Ai Da says it's not looking to "replace human artists."

Ai Da unveiled its new portrait of King Charles III this week, depicting the smiling British ruler with a flower in his buttonhole. However, this robot claims it has no intention of "replacing" humans.

Ai Da is a gynoid, an anthropomorphic robot with a feminine appearance.

His portrait of British mathematician Alan Turing, one of the founders of computer science, sold at auction late last year for $1 million.

It was the first time that a work of art created by a humanoid robot was auctioned .

But during the presentation of his work Algorithm King in Geneva, on the sidelines of the " AI for the Common Good" summit, the robot explained that the value of his work cannot be measured in money.

"The value of my art is to serve as a catalyst for discussions that explore the ethical dimensions of new technologies," Ai Da said in an interview with AFP at the British diplomatic mission, where the new portrait of King Charles III will be displayed.

The idea is to "stimulate critical thinking and foster responsible innovation for a more just and sustainable future."

The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a woman, with a realistic and relatively expressive face, large hazel-green eyes, and a bob-style wig.

Its name is a tribute to Ada Lovelace , a pioneer of computing in the first half of the 19th century.

His arms betray his machine. The metal is visible and can be interchanged depending on the art form Ai Da wishes to pursue: painting, drawing, or sculpture.

Methods and inspirations

"When I create art, I use a variety of AI algorithms," the robot describes. "I start with a basic idea or concept I want to explore, then reflect on the purpose of the work by asking myself, 'What is it meant to express?'" he adds.

"King Charles uses his position to raise awareness about environmental conservation and interfaith dialogue. I designed this portrait to celebrate that," Ai Da explains, hoping the king will "appreciate" her efforts.

Aidan Meller, a specialist in modern and contemporary art, led the team that created Ai Da in 2019, made up of artificial intelligence experts from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham.

Amid the debate—which often turns into a confrontation—between human creators and AIs, fed at low cost by their talent and that of their predecessors, Meller wants to see in his robot an ethical artistic project, whose objective "is not to replace painters."

For his part, Ai Da agrees. "There's no doubt that artificial intelligence is transforming our world, including art and forms of human creative expression, but I don't think AI or my art will replace human artists ," he emphasizes.

Instead, he says his goal is to "inspire viewers to reflect on the positive use of AI, while remaining aware of its risks and limitations."

When asked whether a painting made by a machine can truly be considered art, Ai Da insisted that his work "is unique and creative."

" Let humans decide whether it's art or not, that's an important and interesting point," he noted.