A painting by the robot Ai-Da has sold at Sotheby’s for more than $1.3 million, far exceeding its initial estimate of more than $180,000.

Created using both digital and physical art techniques, the work marks a significant milestone in the impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary art.

Named in honor of mathematical pioneer Ada Lovelace, Ai-Da was created by Aidan Meller in collaboration with artificial intelligence experts at the University of Oxford and the University of Birmingham. The robot demonstrated its painting skills by choosing Alan Turing as the subject of a portrait.

The portrait, titled "AI God: Portrait of Alan Turing," was designed by Ai-Da after studying Turing's face through a camera and drawing 15 versions.

The final work was printed on a large canvas, using 3D texture printing to blend digital art and physical art. Ai-Da's robotic arm completed the final coloring. Minimal human assistance was required to ensure the completion of the work.

"This auction represents an important milestone in art history, reflecting the growing influence of artificial intelligence technology on the contemporary art market." Ai-Da project initiator Aidan Meller said.