Humanoid robot Ai-Da paints portrait of King Charles using AI

AI-powered robot artist Ai-Da has painted King Charles III using a robotic arm and machine learning – no sitting required.

We’re all probably a bit bored already with generative AI making portraits of whoever, whenever, wherever.

Back in March, when ChatGPT Studio Ghibli portraits were all the rage, Cybernews featured King Charles on the cover. The cover revealed a charming king amid some well-grown alliums (onion flowers, for the unacquainted).

And now, an actual robot has painted Charles again, with a robotic arm and an actual canvas, as well as other paraphernalia.

Long live the painted king

Titled Algorithm King, the portrait was revealed alongside Ai-Da’s earlier work, Algorithm Queen, at the AI For Good Summit in Geneva.

The portrait was completed without Charles ever posing, reinforcing AI’s ability to recreate likenesses from digital imagery.

Ai-Da relied on visual data captured by her inbuilt cameras, then processed it through AI algorithms to create a stylized interpretation in oil paint.

The painting was physically executed by a robotic arm, demonstrating a blend of machine learning and mechanical precision.

UK diplomat Simon Manley called Ai-Da a “cultural conversation starter” representing British innovation on the global stage

Ai-Da was designed to spark dialogue around the intersection of art, technology, and humanity.

The portrait of King Charles III, “Algorithm King,” was displayed side-by-side with Ai-Da Robot’s 2022 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, “Algorithm Queen.” https://t.co/HKSmJlPqrA

undefined Artsy (@artsy) July 17, 2025

Born to paint, not feel

Built in 2019, she’s considered the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid artist.

Her name honors Ada Lovelace, an early pioneer in computing and imagination.

Ai-Da’s creators emphasize that she is not sentient – her creativity is programmed through generative algorithms trained on thousands of art samples.

Her previous works include sculpture and abstract art, exhibited in top institutions like the V&A, Tate Modern, and the Venice Biennale.

Ai-Da’s Queen Elizabeth II portrait (2022) marked the first time a monarch was painted by a machine, making this King Charles portrait a historical follow-up.