AI used for creation of novel, unconventional artworks

Robot arms equipped with AI draw a portrait of a visitor at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan.

TOKYO — An artistic toy car named Gangu with quirky tires and a twisted body colored in red, blue and green has been on display since Nov. 14 at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in the Odaiba district of Koto Ward, Tokyo.

Based on a design drawn by AI, a group of Tokyo creators built the three-dimensional object, which is 94 centimeters tall, 65 centimeters wide and 95 centimeters deep.

The AI is said to have created a strange shape that has never existed by imitating the intelligence of a 5-year-old who draws pictures after studying images of toys and cars.

“The work turned out to be an interesting piece with each part blending together,” said one of the members of the creators’ group. The group, called Party, works on spatial designs and other projects.

“I thought AI can only produce mechanical things. I was surprised to learn it was able to make something so unique,” said a 22-year-old university student from Yokohama who visited the museum.

The exhibition, “Future and the Arts: AI, Robotics, Cities, Life — How Humanity Will Live Tomorrow” is being held at the Mori Art Museum in the Roppongi district of Minato Ward, Tokyo, until March 29.

An artist group from London is exhibiting a sculpture over 3 meters tall that was designed by AI after it studied coral images. The sculpture is covered with rounded prominences and contains live euglena. The originality in which “an AI work photosynthesizes” attracts attention.

There is also a demonstration at the exhibition in which five “AI artists” draw portraits of visitors. The robot arms take about 25 minutes to complete a drawing. Each AI artist has a different style, with some drawing faces in a rounded style or in a realistic true-to-life way.