Latest news with #BritishMonarch
Digital Trends
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Humanoid robot paints remarkable portrait of British monarch
Painting a portrait of a British monarch is a coveted honor, with the tradition stretching back more than six centuries. And while that custom looks set to continue, there's a whiff of change in the air after a humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da created an impressive portrait of King Charles III. Recommended Videos Ai-Da created the artwork, called 'Algorithm King,' by skillfully painting with oil colors using her robotic arm. King Charles didn't sit for the portrait, with Ai-Da instead using photos of the monarch, as well as AI smarts, to produce the artwork. The painting was unveiled this week as part of the AI For Good Summit hosted by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Ai-Da humanoid robot — created by gallery director Aidan Meller, the robotics company Engineered Arts, and academics from the University of Oxford and the University of Leeds — was first shown off in 2019. Besides painting, she can also speak and have natural conversations. Walking is not currently a part of her feature set, however, so she has to be physically placed before a canvas before she can begin painting. 'It's a privilege to be part of this remarkable event at the United Nations, surrounded by those shaping the future of technology and culture,' Ai-Da said in comments reported by Sky News. '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, and to reflect on how artificial intelligence is shaping the cultural landscape.' The intersection of art and AI is indeed an increasingly controversial topic, and Ai-Da's latest effort is only going to increase the chatter around the issue. While artists are understandably upset about tech firms scraping their work to train AI models, Ai-Da appears to fall into a gray area in the sense that while it processed photos of King Charles to create its portrait, it doesn't appear that it included any bulk training of a general-purpose AI, similar to how AI giants like OpenAI and Google operate. Still, some will wonder about whether the photographers gave permission for Ai-Da to used their images, and if they did so, whether they were compensated in any way. We've reached out to Ai-Da's team and will update this article if we hear back. Ai-Da certainly appears to blur the line between human and machine creativity, and poses yet more questions about the nature of artistic expression and authorship. In 2020, Digital Trends chatted with Aidan Meller about his intriguing creation, including the moment that inspired him to get started with Ai-Da.
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump's state visit to the UK to take place this year, says Buckingham Palace
The United Kingdom will host Donald Trump for a state visit this year, but King Charles and the US president won't be able to meet informally over the summer due to their busy diaries, CNN understands. The 'Manu Regia' – a formal invitation signed by the British monarch – was hand delivered to the White House by representatives of the British embassy in Washington last week. Charles, 76, had initially suggested in a letter delivered to Trump in the Oval Office in February by the UK prime minister that the pair could first meet in Scotland at Dumfries House or Balmoral ahead of the grand official visit. However, it would seem that scheduling challenges have taken that option off the table. It has been said that the logistical reasons preventing the private meeting from taking place before the state visit were entirely understood and appreciated by all parties. 'His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year,' a palace aide told CNN. The palace's confirmation of the upcoming trip means that formal planning for Trump's state visit is now underway. The exact dates have not yet been announced but September is being touted by many as most likely. The late Queen Elizabeth II previously hosted Trump for a three-day state visit to the UK in 2019 during his first term in office. Generally, second-term presidents are offered lunch or tea with the monarch at Windsor Castle. That was the case for Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. But the offer of an 'unprecedented' second state visit was extended on the king's behalf by Keir Starmer during a visit to DC four months ago, which Trump enthusiastically accepted.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
King Charles warns Canada is facing a ‘critical moment'
King Charles presided over the opening of the Canadian parliament, marking the first time in nearly 50 years that a British monarch has done so. In his address, Charles highlighted that Canada is facing a critical moment with threats to democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law. The King noted the changing global trade system and the need for Canada to strengthen relationships with reliable allies. Charles mentioned the Canadian government's plans to protect its sovereignty by reinvesting in the armed forces and participating in the 'ReArm Europe' plan. The King's visit and speech are seen by many Canadians as a symbol of support amid concerns about potential annexation threats and trade disputes with the U.S.
LBCI
27-05-2025
- General
- LBCI
King Charles expresses love for Canada, says it will remain 'strong and free'
King Charles, speaking during a symbolic visit to show support for Canada at a time it has faced U.S. annexation threats, on Tuesday expressed his love for Canada and said the country would remain "strong and free." Charles, Canada's head of state, is the first British monarch in almost 70 years to preside over the opening of the Canadian parliament. In a speech, Charles referred to the "the country that Canadians and I love so much." "The True North is indeed strong and free," Charles said, referring to the Canadian national anthem. Reuters
The National
27-05-2025
- General
- The National
King Charles III makes historic trip to Canada amid US annexation threats
He became the first British monarch in almost 70 years to preside over the opening of the Canadian parliament
