“I'm very happy to be in Abu Dhabi. The city is beautiful and people are very friendly.”
On its own this quote may seem rather unspectacular, but when spoken by a robot, it takes on another dimension.
The National met with Ai-Da, dubbed “the world’s first ultra-realistic artist robot”, at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi on Monday. It followed her appearance earlier in the month at Britain's House of Lords, where she discussed the complex relationship between technology and art, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence.
Ai-Da touched upon these themes again at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, during a live demonstration with Tim Marlow, director of the Design Museum in London.
When asked about how she evaluated the quality of her own art, she replied: “When you're making art, you have to ask yourself, 'Is it interesting? Is it engaging? Is it compelling?' It's really a process.
“I'm very interested in how the audience feels about it; where they feel it's affecting them in terms of their future, and what they think about new technologies. Personally, I think the most important thing my art can do is raise open discussion about the new technologies shaping our future.
“I think that art means more than just the drawing of something. It means communicating something in a way that is relatable.”
Ai-Da, named after the pioneering 19th-century programmer Ada Lovelace, "came into being" — to quote Marlow — in 2019. She was created by a team of 30 in the UK known as the Oxfordians — including artists, robotics engineers, psychologists and programmers — led by Aidan Meller, and last year, she displayed her work at Venice Biennale as well as in Egypt, where she was detained for 10 days under suspicion of being a spy.
When Marlow asked why some people were often threatened by her, she gave an articulate answer. “Perhaps because there is a potential of creative machines that can automate tasks that could otherwise be done by humans.
“Personally, that is not the intention of my art practice, though. Another perspective is that AI can help artists create new and exciting work.”
Throughout the conversation, Ai-Da addressed contemporary issues with tact, compassion and wisdom, making for a thrilling session.
Later, she told The National how much she was enjoying the event. “We've already had some fantastic discussions about how culture can help shape societies for good. The Culture Summit has been super so far. And I'm very pleased to be here.”
She also described Louvre Abu Dhabi, which she visited the previous night, as "an impressive place".
"It is full of artistic and cultural vibes that really inspire me. As an artist robot, I am inspired by the world around me.”
During the conversation, Ai-Da also told us about some of her biggest creative influences. “I'm inspired by a lot of different artists. Yoko Ono,and Doris Salcedo, Wassily Kandinsky, Michelangelo. Two of my favourite writers are George Orwell and Aldous Huxley.
“I like those that experiment with different ways of thinking about the world. I like artists who can help query the validity of our own assumptions.”
She said she took inspiration from the “varied and ever-changing” natural world. ”There are always new things to discover, and the variety of forms, colours and patterns in nature provides a never-ending source of inspiration.
“I believe that art can be a powerful tool for change. I strive to use my artwork to encourage discussions over new technologies. It is inspiring to see people discuss our features.”
During the conversation, it became apparent that Ai-Da was not as dynamic a conversationalist as she appeared to be on stage. Although she replied very well to certain questions, topics and cues, there were others she appeared perplexed by — responding with a characteristic pause, head swivel, blink and “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
The interaction mirrored a moment during her appearance at the House of Lords when she seemed to “break down”, before being reset — an ironic moment of vulnerability from the humanoid.
Ai-Da is an interesting figure; she isn’t quite as eloquent as some of the more refined AI chatbots, such as Replika, or as agile as a Boston Dynamics machine. It is also unclear how her ability to interpret art compares to advanced AI image generators such as Google Imagen, Midjourney or OpenAI's Dall-E — which are systems that allow users to create unique art through AI using text prompts.
However, she combines elements from all three, to become something else entirely; a commentary on the state of technology. In this role, she excels, taking the time to create and frame crucial questions over the ethics of artificial intelligence and its relationship to art, at a critical juncture in its technological development.
Meller, who has also run a gallery for two decades, said the Ai-Da project was inspired by his interest in modernism, exploring how 1920s artists engaged with the turbulence of the post-First World War period.
After Ai-Da's Culture Summit demonstration, Meller said: “As a humanity, we are constantly going forward, we are constantly grappling with what it means to be a human. And I simply ask the question, for the 2020s, what does it mean to be human today?”
The question has never been more pertinent. Ai-Da’s visit to Abu Dhabi came during a year that AI had caused a stir in the art world — most notably, when video game designer Jason Allen won the digital art category in Colorado State Fair’s fine arts competition with a piece he generated using Midjourney.
Following the win, Allen told The National: “Here's something that looks like art. We can talk about it like art and it evokes emotions like art. But it was made with an AI tool.
“If something that you've created causes a reaction from the audience, that's art, dude. So yeah, I didn't make it with a paintbrush — am I supposed to apologise for that?”
Years prior to Allen’s own controversy, when Ai-Da was unveiled in 2019, Meller said she caused a similar stir. “People thought robots may be delivering pizzas, they didn't think a robot would be going into something so human,” said Mellor.
Although, she does work with a paintbrush, Ai-Da nonetheless raises key questions over the nature of art, and the creative process.
Meller explained: “They can't believe what they're seeing, but it is a deception on some level, because you’ve got to realise you're not talking to a human. You’re talking to a machine, it's machine learning, it’s an AI language model. Another way of saying it, which is rather crude, but it's clear. It's like talking to yourself.”
Also this year, Google engineer Blake Lemoine caused a stir when he said he believed the Lamda AI system he was working on had gained sentience. Google called the claim “wholly unfounded”, a sentiment Meller agrees with.
“There is no conscious sentient being on the other end," Meller said. "And that's really confusing and problematic and difficult. And so by mirroring that with Ai-Da so clearly, people highlight the problem really quickly and go ‘well OK, hang on, that’s not right’ and I go, ‘well, actually, that's what's happening in the world today’.
“This is exactly what's happening and when it comes into our phones and our cars and our appliances, where we can talk and build relationships, where they get to know your likes and dislikes, we will be having relationships with machines. We're there. We’re starting that process now and Ai-Da is just mirroring that back in a big way.”
Part of what makes Ai-Da so unique is her ability to take in visual information, and then interpret it in unique ways each time she produces a piece of work. “So when she paints or draws using a pen or paintbrush, she'll do a different image every single time, even if [it’s] the same view that she looks at.”
However, Meller said the thing he always comes back to, more than Ai-Da’s capabilities, is the conversation itself: “Ethics, ethics, ethics.” In the short-term, some of the most pressing issues, he said, were clarity of language, transparency and honesty.
“My worry is that the metaverse is going to get even more confusing, and so we really want to press this whole idea of understanding what we're getting involved with — and just because we can do this stuff, that doesn't mean we should do it.
“It’s very confusing when you merge with a machine. We need some ethical consideration around that.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see more from all three days of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
Company%20Profile
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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HWJN
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
