Artist robot Ai-Da detained in Egypt on suspicion of espionage
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A robot with a flair for the arts was detained at the Egyptian border for 10 days ahead of a major exhibition. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai-Da was set to present her artworks at the foot of the pyramids of Giza: the first ever art exhibition held in the historic area. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The show, titled </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Forever is Now</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, is an annual event organised by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Art D’Égypte to support the art and culture scene in Egypt. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai-Da’s digitally created artworks, and her presence at the event, was set to be the highlight of the show. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Egyptian officials grew concerned when she arrived as her eyes feature cameras and an internet modem. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because of Ai-Da’s technology, officials at the Egyptian border grew concerned that she had been sent to the country as part of an espionage conspiracy. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/20/egypt-detains-artist-robot-ai-da-before-historic-pyramid-show"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Guardian</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, British officials had to work intensively to get Ai-Da out of detainment before the beginning of the art show, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Egyptian officials offered to let Ai-Da free if she had some of her gadgetry removed, to which Aiden Meller, Ai-Da’s creator, refused. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They offered to remove her eyes as a security measure, but Aiden insisted that she uses her eyes to create her artwork. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She was eventually released, with her eyes intact, and the show went ahead as scheduled. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai-Da is able to make unique art thanks to specially designed technology developed by researchers at Oxford and Leeds University. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ai-Da’s key algorithm converts images she captures with her camera-eyes and converts them to drawings. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The robot can also paint portraits, as her creators allowed her technology to analyse colours and techniques used by successful human artists. </span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>
