An AI-generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol on display at the World Economic Forum in Davos. EPA
An AI-generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol on display at the World Economic Forum in Davos. EPA
An AI-generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol on display at the World Economic Forum in Davos. EPA
An AI-generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol on display at the World Economic Forum in Davos. EPA

Ghost in the machine: Technology makes its way into the artist studio


Dana Alomar
  • English
  • Arabic

Technology has always been intertwined with artistic expression. Don’t take my word for it, that is one of the conclusions from the European Parliament in a 2019 study. It catalyses innovation and pushes the boundaries of creative possibilities. Technological advancements have always transformed how art is created and consumed, from the invention of the printing press, which revolutionised the dissemination of art and ideas, to the development of photography and film.

Now, a new wave of innovation is again reshaping the art world, with generative artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing leading the charge. These technologies worry some, but excite others. Whatever your position, these tools are a reality and they are redefining the creative process and broadening the scope of what artists can achieve.

Generative AI: A new partner in artistic creation

Creatives can now collaborate with AI to produce art that merges human creativity with machine-generated ideas, resulting in completely new forms and styles. This isn’t entirely new. Artists such as Sol LeWitt used mathematical concepts to create minimalist works in the 1960s, and today’s AI tools follow a similar logic, using algorithms to generate images, patterns and even soundscapes. Programmes such as OpenAI’s Dall-E and MidJourney allow artists to input prompts and concepts and let the AI create visual representations.

Dall-E 2, for example, has more than 1.5 million users who actively create more than two million images daily, spanning a variety of professions, from artists and creative directors to authors and architects. This process transforms AI from a mere tool into a co-creator, offering a dynamic platform for generating abstract, surreal and sometimes unanticipated results.

To do it yourself, get Dall-E 3, powered by OpenAI, from Dh75

An image of a fox in a filed generated by Dall-E. Photo: OpenAI
An image of a fox in a filed generated by Dall-E. Photo: OpenAI

Robotics: Precision meets creativity

Sculptors historically relied on manual techniques, which limited their work’s scale and detail. Robotic sculpture uses machines or robots to carve and assemble with precision, handling intricate designs and repetitive tasks faster than humans.

With AI programming, robots can create dynamic, evolving art, offering levels of innovation that were impossible to achieve with traditional methods. Today, robotics also offers artists new ways to interact with their creations. Take artist Patrick Tresset, for example, whose robotic systems create intricate sketches based on real-world observations. These robots mimic human drawing and incorporate machine logic, offering a novel fusion of human touch and precision.

If you’re in the market for a robotic arm, get in touch with Robotor Srl, price on request

Artist Patrick Tresset uses robotic systems to create intricate sketches based on real-world observations. These robots mimic human drawing and incorporate machine logic, offering a novel fusion of human touch and precision. Getty Images
Artist Patrick Tresset uses robotic systems to create intricate sketches based on real-world observations. These robots mimic human drawing and incorporate machine logic, offering a novel fusion of human touch and precision. Getty Images

3D Printing: Digital to physical

Technology has also transformed how artists create sculptures and prototype designs, allowing for unprecedented detail and precision. Originating in the 1980s as an industrial prototyping tool, 3D printing has evolved beyond its early applications to become a vital medium in contemporary art. The technology enables artists to turn digital models into physical objects by printing them layer by layer – bringing to life intricate designs that would likely be difficult and time-consuming to produce by hand.

This process has been particularly impactful for artists exploring geometric and organic forms. For example, Janne Kyttanen has utilised 3D printing across disciplines such as lighting, furniture and fashion to explore the intersection between rigid geometric precision and free-form, natural shapes.

To get started with 3D printing, consider an AnkerMake M5C 3D printer, from Dh1,100

Originating in the 1980s as an industrial prototyping tool, 3D printing has evolved beyond its early applications to become a vital medium in contemporary art. Photo: AnkerMake
Originating in the 1980s as an industrial prototyping tool, 3D printing has evolved beyond its early applications to become a vital medium in contemporary art. Photo: AnkerMake
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

The specs: 2018 Ford F-150

Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km

The Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: Dh898,000

On sale: now

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

List of UAE medal winners

Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)

Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)

Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)

The specs: 2019 Haval H6

Price, base: Dh69,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

Updated: December 21, 2024, 7:07 AM`