Ai-Da, world’s first humanoid artists, speaks at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi welcomed the first robot artist using artificial intelligence technology to its fifth edition, which is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and running until Tuesday, October 25 at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

Ai-Da, whose art has been shown at the Venice Biennale, was interviewed by Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director of The Design Museum. She is a unique robot with the ability to be creative. When asked about her identity, Ai-Da said: “I am of no particular convention. I am of no fixed words or images. I am a machine. I a composite persona with many aspects and angles. Maybe it’s problematic to create humanoids because it blurs the lines between humanity and technology. As an artist I feel it is important to create work that provokes thought and encourages viewers to question their futures.”

When asked about her work, Ai-Da said: “I think the most important thing my art can do is raise open discussion about the new technologies shaping our future. I think it’s good art that has meaning and depth. I think art means more than just the drawing of something. It means communicating something in a way that is relatable.” 

As an artist programmed by AI, she hopes her work will inspire artists to engage with new technologies and to bring up questions for discussions about the future. 

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is organised by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with global partner organisations bringing expertise in diverse fields, from culture and arts to media and technology. Partners include UNESCO, Economist Impact, Google, the Design Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation and the Recording Academy. Other participating partners include Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Sandstorm Comics, Cultural Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Culture Resource, Arab Fund for Arts & Culture, and the Institut Français.