Throughout history, artists have immortalized members of the Royal Family through traditional portraits. Recently, however, this tradition took a futuristic turn when Ai-Da, the ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, created the first AI-generated portrait of King Charles. The unveiling, held by the UK Mission to the WTO and United Nations in Geneva, showcased both King Charles' new portrait and Ai-Da’s prior painting of Queen Elizabeth II, originally made for her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Ai-Da employs cutting-edge artificial intelligence, robotic arms, and eye cameras to sketch and paint her subjects. Her latest work at the AI For Good Summit, organized by the UN, captivated onlookers but also stirred a polarized reaction across social media platforms.
Instagram users flooded the post shared by @imjustbait, who noted Ai-Da’s ability to draw “people from sight” by painting a full mural of King Charles. Comments revealed concern and scepticism about AI’s expanding role in creative fields. Some users lamented the encroachment of AI on human creativity, warning that it threatens not only jobs but hobbies and talents once considered uniquely human.
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One commenter argued passionately, claiming that AI would “never be an artist” and criticized humanity for “becoming its own disease.” Another user questioned the ethical implications of creating humanoid robots specifically designed to look human, labeling the effort as “wrong and twisted.”
Despite the backlash, there were voices of encouragement. Some found inspiration in Ai-Da’s work, expressing a renewed desire to engage with art themselves. Others humorously noted that the AI-created portrait looked “better than his actual portrait,” a nod to previous royal artworks.
Ai-Da was conceived by Aidan Meller, a modern and contemporary art expert, and developed by a UK-based team of engineers and programmers. Reflecting on her role at the summit, Ai-Da stated, “Presenting my portrait of His Majesty King Charles III is not just a creative act, it’s a statement about the evolving role of AI in our society.”
She emphasized the broader implications of AI in art, touching on questions surrounding identity, authorship, and the very nature of creativity in an age where machines increasingly influence cultural expression.