Ai-Da draws using using cameras in her eyes, her AI algorithms, and her robotic arm.

Glamorous-looking Ai-Da, a creation of Oxford-based Aidan Meller, is the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid AI robot artist. She may also be the first robot artist to be at the center of a diplomatic row. En route this week to the Forever is Now exhibition near the Egyptian pyramids in Giza, she and companion Meller were stopped by Egyptian authorities after landing in Cairo. The problem? Thinking Ai-Da was an espionage risk, the security personnel demanded her ‘eyes’ be removed. (Daily Mail)

Meller said he is working hard to get Ai-Da released. Apparently, Gareth Bayley, the British ambassador to Egypt, is being asked to intervene.

Clay sculpture planned

Created in February 2019, Ai-Da is capable of drawing people from life using her cameras in her eyes, her AI algorithms, and her robotic arm.

Lately, she has acquired capabilities to create new works for the metaverse. Her works were recently exhibited at the V&A exhibition in September 2021.

At the exhibition in Egypt, she was scheduled to create a sculpture, participating as one of ten international artists showing their work at the site in front of the pyramids.

‘It is the first time in 4,000 years that contemporary art has been allowed so close to the pyramids,” commented Meller. “We put in eye-watering amounts of time and energy to create the innovations for Ai-Da to put her hands in clay to enable her to create a huge sculpture.”

Meller is concerned about his artistic robot

Though Ai-Da, being a machine, is switched off, Meller is still worried about her safety.

“But I hope they [the guards] don’t knock her,” he said. “She is the most sophisticated ultra-realistic robot in the world.”

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Media source: Ai-Da