Creator Aidan Meller with Ai-Da at a press conference unveiling the world\'s first robot artist, at Lady Margaret Hall College at Oxford University. (Jacob King/PA Wire)
Creator Aidan Meller with Ai-Da at a press conference unveiling the world\’s first robot artist, at Lady Margaret Hall College at Oxford University. (Jacob King/PA Wire)

A humanoid AI android called Ai-Da has been unveiled as the world’s first robot artist ahead of its debut exhibition at the University of Oxford.

Named after the mathematician Ada Lovelace, the robot was revealed during a press conference at the university’s Lady Margaret Hall College on Wednesday.

A selection of its work also went on display, including geometric pieces in blue and green as well as black and white images of the human head.

Ai-Da also showcased its pencil-work, using a robot hand developed by engineers in Leeds in front of an audience.

Artworks in the solo exhibition, entitled Unsecured Future, also include drawings, paintings, sculpture and video art. The collection aims to explore the boundaries between AI, technology and organic life.

Embargoed to 0001 Monday June 03 Undated handout photo issued by Midas PR of Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist, which will be unveiled for the first time at Oxford University on Wednesday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday June 3, 2019. Ai-Da is an ultra-realistic life-like robot capable of drawing people from life using her eye, and a pencil in her robotic hand, and is named after Ada Lovelace, the first female computer programmer. She has been designed by the same robotics company that created the robots for HBO's Westworld. See PA story ARTS Robot. Photo credit should read: Victor Frankowski/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Ai-Da, the world’s first robot artist, with some of its work (PA)

Ai-Da’s creators say it is the first ultra-realistic robot capable of drawing people from life using its eye and a pencil in its hand.

Aidan Meller, Ai-Da’s brainchild and a gallery owner, has described his creation as ‘pioneering a new AI art movement’.

Embargoed to 0001 Monday June 03 Undated handout photo issued by Midas PR of Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist, which will unveiled for the first time at Oxford University on Wednesday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday May 30, 2019. Ai-Da is an ultra-realistic life-like robot capable of drawing people from life using her eye, and a pencil in her robotic hand, and is named after Ada Lovelace, the first female computer programmer. She has been designed by the same robotics company that created the robots for HBO's Westworld. See PA story ARTS Robot. Photo credit should read: Nicky Johnston/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
The robot’s exhibition will be on display at the University of Oxford (PA)

Manufactured by Engineered Arts in Cornwall, Ai-Da was completed in April this year. Its body is capable of an expressive range of movements and features realistic silicone skin, 3D printed teeth and gums and eye cameras.

Ai-Da’s solo exhibition Unsecured Futures runs from June 12 until July 6 at St John’s College, University of Oxford.