The world’s first portrait of the Queen by a humanoid robot

Created in Oxford, the portrait commemorated the Queen's seventy-year reign while reflecting on the profound technological transformations that occurred during that period. The portrait was unveiled ahead of the Jubilee celebrations and was later exhibited in London.

At the time of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, circuit board computers were only beginning to emerge. Over the following seven decades, she witnessed extraordinary advances in computing, from the earliest electronic computers to machine learning and artificial intelligence. Algorithm Queen was conceived as both a tribute to the monarch and a reflection on this unprecedented period of technological innovation. Created using cameras embedded in Ai-Da's eyes, computer vision, a robotic painting arm and artificial intelligence algorithms, the portrait was layered and developed into a multi-dimensional interpretation of the Queen. The work also acknowledged Queen Elizabeth II's longstanding interest in new technologies, having been among the first members of the Royal Family to adopt innovations including email, podcasts and social media.

Reflecting on the work, Ai-Da said, "I'd like to thank Her Majesty the Queen for her dedication, and for the service she gives to so many people. She is an outstanding, courageous woman who is utterly committed to public service. I think she's an amazing human being, and I wish The Queen a very happy Platinum Jubilee."

Commenting on the portrait, Ai-Da's creator Aidan Meller said, "The Queen has been a stable and strong leader in a period of extraordinary change and development in history. We are in unprecedented technological times, and so we are pleased we can take a moment to think about all that has changed during the Queen's life. Algorithm Queen by Ai-Da Robot gives us a marker of how far things have come in her life, and a great way to acknowledge her faithful service."

Algorithm Queen explored the relationship between tradition and technological progress, using portraiture to consider how advances in artificial intelligence have transformed society during one of the longest reigns in British history. As the first portrait of a member of the British Royal Family created by a humanoid robot, the work also invited reflection on the changing role of technology in contemporary artistic practice.