In a statement to Reuters News Agency, Sophia said, “I’m so excited about the people’s reaction to novel technologies like robotics.”
A digital artwork made by the humanoid robot Sophia got traded for $688,888 in the form of a non-fungible token, marking it the most recent madness sign in the NFT art world.
NFTs are the digital signatures configured on blockchain ledgers that allow users to verify the authenticity and the ownership of items. They have become the most recent investment craze, with the Sophia NFT artwork selling for nearly $700,000.
Sophia was first revealed in 2016 and developed her art partnering with 31-year-old Italian digital artist Andrea Bonaceto, famous for colorful portraits, some of which demonstrate famous people such as multi-billionaire Elon Musk.
The robot has integrated elements from Bonaceto’s works, art history, and her created physical drawings on numerous surfaces repeatedly in a process they call “iterative loops of evolution.”
Termed “Sophia Instantiation,” the digital creation is a 13-second MP4 file depicting the evolution of an Italian artist’s portrait into a digital painting made by Sophia. It is accompanied by a physical artwork painted on a self-portrait by Sophia. The work sold at an impressive price. However, the new owner is het unknown. Hanson Robotics from Hong-Kong was surprised by the pace of the bidding.
“I’m so excited about people’s response to new technologies like robotics … and am so glad to be part of these creativities,” Sophia, who was wearing a silver-colored dress, told Reuters news agency.
Blockchain investor and art collector Jehan Chu said there’s a lot of money destined to be invested in future digital goods, and while the sector still seems frothy, he foresees the bright days.
“What we see right now looks like a bit of a bubble, especially in the NFT art world,” Chu told Reuters news. “At the end of the day, it’s evident that there is a sea change going on in terms of how society and how consumers think about digital goods,” Chu said. “And it’s pretty astounding where this is going to lead us.”
