logo
Humanoid robot says not aiming to 'replace human artists'

Humanoid robot says not aiming to 'replace human artists'

Bangkok Post10-07-2025
GENEVA — When successful artist Ai-Da unveiled a new portrait of King Charles this week, the humanoid robot described what inspired the layered and complex piece, and insisted it had no plans to "replace" humans.
The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a human woman with an expressive, life-like face, large hazel eyes and brown hair cut in a bob.
The arms though are unmistakably robotic, with exposed metal, and can be swapped out depending on the art form it is practicing.
Late last year, Ai-Da's portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, fetching over US$1 million.
But as Ai-Da unveiled its latest creation -- an oil painting entitled "Algorithm King", conceived using artificial intelligence (AI) -- the humanoid insisted the work's importance could not be measured in money.
"The value of my artwork is to serve as a catalyst for discussions that explore ethical dimensions to new technologies," the robot told Agence France-Presse (AFP) at Britain's diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the new portrait of King Charles will be housed.
The idea, Ai-Da insisted in a slow, deliberate cadence, was to "foster critical thinking and encourage responsible innovation for more equitable and sustainable futures".
'Unique and creative'
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations' AI for Good summit, Ai-Da, who has done sketches, paintings and sculptures, detailed the methods and inspiration behind the work.
"When creating my art, I use a variety of AI algorithms," the robot said.
"I start with a basic idea or concept that I want to explore, and I think about the purpose of the art. What will it say?"
The humanoid pointed out that "King Charles has used his platform to raise awareness on environmental conservation and interfaith dialog. I have aimed this portrait to celebrate" that, it said, adding that "I hope King Charles will be appreciative of my efforts".
Aidan Meller, a specialist in modern and contemporary art, led the team that created Ai-Da in 2019 with artificial intelligence specialists at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham.
He told AFP that he had conceived the humanoid robot -- named after the world's first computer programmer Ada Lovelace -- as an ethical arts project, and not "to replace the painters".
Ai-Da agreed.
There is "no doubt that AI is changing our world, (including) the art world and forms of human creative expression", the robot acknowledged.
But "I do not believe AI or my artwork will replace human artists".
Instead, Ai-Da said, the aim was "to inspire viewers to think about how we use AI positively, while remaining conscious of its risks and limitations".
Asked if a painting made by a machine could really be considered art, the robot insisted that "my artwork is unique and creative".
"Whether humans decide it is art is an important and interesting point of conversation."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BTS agency HYBE raided over alleged fraud trading
BTS agency HYBE raided over alleged fraud trading

Bangkok Post

time3 days ago

  • Bangkok Post

BTS agency HYBE raided over alleged fraud trading

SEOUL — HYBE, the agency behind Korean pop (K-pop) superstars BTS, was raided by police on Thursday in connection with alleged fraudulent trading involving its founder Bang Si-hyuk, investigators said. "We are conducting a search and seizure at HYBE's headquarters in Yongsan District," Seoul police said in a brief statement. Bang, the mastermind behind BTS, is under investigation over allegations that he misled early investors to reap illicit profits from the company's 2020 initial public offering. He is accused of gaining around 200 billion won (US$146 million) through the process, according to local reports. HYBE has denied Bang committed any wrongdoing. "We will dutifully clarify that the listing at the time was carried out in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," the company said in early July, pledging "active cooperation" with authorities to get to the bottom of the case. Bang allegedly misled HYBE's early investors, who held pre-IPO shares, by telling them in 2019 he had no plans to take the company public. He then allegedly encouraged them to sell their shares to private equity funds when in fact IPO plan was in the making. HYBE went public in 2020, after the shareholders sold their stakes. The 52-year-old is accused of secretly striking a deal with the private equity funds to receive a portion of the profits they made from selling shares after the initial public offering (IPO). 2026 comeback The investigation comes as all seven BTS members complete their mandatory military service and prepare for a comeback next year. HYBE announced this month that a new album and world tour were scheduled for 2026. BTS, known for championing progressive causes, holds the record as the most-streamed group on Spotify and became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States. Before their military service, BTS generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. That accounts for roughly 0.2%of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data. There had been debate over whether BTS should be granted exemptions from military service -- sometimes granted to Olympic medallists and classical artists who win top international awards -- but pop stars do not qualify under South Korean laws.

Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research
Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research

Bangkok Post

time3 days ago

  • Bangkok Post

Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research

PARIS - People who walk 7,000 steps a day have a dramatically lower risk of a broad range of serious health problems, the largest review of the evidence yet said Thursday. The most widely promoted target for people tracking their number of steps is 10,000 -- but that figure reportedly originally came from a 1960s marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer. To find a more scientific target, an international team of researchers sifted through 57 previous studies that covered 160,000 people. The results published in the Lancet Public Health journal found that walking 7,000 steps a day nearly halved people's risk of early death from all causes, compared to 2,000 steps. The study also looked into health problems not previously covered by research into step counts. Walking 7,000 steps a day was linked to people's risk of dementia falling by 38 percent, depression dropping 22 percent and diabetes decreasing 14 percent. It was also associated with lower rates of cancer and falls, though the researchers warned this was based on less evidence. "You don't need to hit 10,000 steps a day to get major health benefits," Paddy Dempsey, a study co-author and medical researcher at Cambridge University, told AFP. "The biggest gains happen before 7,000 steps, and then benefits tend to level off," he said. While people's speeds vary widely, 7,000 steps adds up to roughly an hour of walking throughout the day. Dempsey emphasised that people already managing 10,000 or more steps should keep it up. But he had a message for people who might find 7,000 steps daunting: "don't be discouraged". "If you're only getting 2,000–3,000 steps a day, aim to add an extra 1,000 steps. That's just 10–15 minutes of light walking spread across the day," he said. Andrew Scott, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said that "it demonstrates that overall more is always better". "People should not focus too much on the numbers, particularly on days where activity is limited," he added. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week. Nearly a third of people worldwide do not reach this target, according to the WHO.

Exporters urged to utilise B2B platforms
Exporters urged to utilise B2B platforms

Bangkok Post

time4 days ago

  • Bangkok Post

Exporters urged to utilise B2B platforms

Thai exporters should enter online business-to-business (B2B) platforms to capitalise on the dynamics of global buyers seeking new sources of suppliers amid global trade uncertainty. Among the top markets that are interested in Thai products are the US, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Global B2B e-commerce has continued to post double-digit growth for five consecutive years, with projections suggesting the value will reach US$3.6 trillion by 2026. "Global trade uncertainties are reshaping sourcing strategies, creating opportunities for suppliers," said Owen Zhou, senior channel operations for Thailand and the Philippines at Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group -- ICBU-APAC South. He was speaking on Wednesday at Regional Trade Exponential Fest 2025, a seminar organised by the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD). He added that before 2017, only had Chinese suppliers operating export businesses on its platform. After 2017, it opened for suppliers around the world to join it to carry out export business. Now it is one of the largest B2B e-commerce platforms. The top buyers are the US, Canada, Japan, Asean, Europe, China and the Middle East. The US market remains one of its largest and most important buyer markets. However, economic conditions vary across regions, and the US economy is currently at a different stage compared to others. "Right now, we see significant opportunities emerging in the Middle East and Europe, where shifting dynamics may allow these regions to capture a larger share of global demand, potentially overtaking traditional US-based buyers," Mr Zhou told the Bangkok Post. "We're also seeing growing international demand for high-quality products that are manufactured using fair and transparent processes. This presents a strong opportunity for Thai manufacturers to expand their exports globally." He also sees a diverse and evolving buyer landscape within There are new buyers such as social media-based sellers like those found on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, who engage in small quantity, high frequency purchases for testing and referral sales. Despite having fewer than 1,000 customers in Thailand since starting operations in 2017, Mr Zhou sees great potential for Thai industries beyond the currently dominant food, beverage, agriculture, beauty and healthcare sectors to join and expand their export businesses. "We aim to have 2,000 suppliers in Thailand this year," said Mr Zhou. According to its platform, the leading importers of Thai products are the US, valued at $5.82 billion, followed by Hong Kong ($5.24 billion), Japan ($5 billion), China ($4.6 billion) and South Korea ($1.85 billion). He said that provides a suite of advanced tools to facilitate online trade. Sellers can post product videos, factory videos and conduct livestreams to build trust and provide detailed product views. To overcome language barriers in cross-border trade, its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translation function automatically translates conversations between local languages and the recipient's language, making international business convenient. AI capabilities can generate keywords, optimise titles, create product descriptions, generate product images and even automatically generate product videos from input images, names and scenarios. "Now it's 2025, there's no problem with languages. We have AI and we have our translate function." The platform leverages over 25 years of data accumulation and analysis in the foreign trade sector, boasting more than 20 million active B2B buyers and over $400 billion in transaction records. Suphakit Chareonkul, ITD's executive director, said today it is no longer sufficient to have only a successful product and determination. Businesses require vision, strategy, networks and continuous flexibility. He noted that the World Bank predicts global economic growth will slow to 2.3% in 2025, a stern warning that countries like Thailand must accelerate their adaptation to trade restrictions and evolving global logistics. "We also provide the 'ITD Expert Anywhere' application for entrepreneurs to access and consult with for international business through its experts." Mr Suphakit added that regional markets are expanding, while digital technologies are carving out new paths.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store