Recently, Christie's, a renowned auction house, held its first AI-themed art auction, titled "Augmented Intelligence," sparking widespread global attention and controversy. According to Christie's data, the auction featured over 30 works and achieved a total sales figure of $728,784.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, licensed by Midjourney
However, the auction wasn't without its challenges. Prior to the event, over 5,600 artists signed an open letter urging Christie's to cancel the sale. The letter claimed that many of the auctioned pieces were created using unauthorized AI models trained on copyrighted works. The artists stated: "These models and the companies behind them are exploiting human artists, using their work without permission or payment to build commercial AI products that compete with them."
In response to the protests, Christie's issued a statement saying that artistic creation inherently evolves through the constant exchange of inspiration, and that art can spark debate and discussion. They expressed a willingness to explore the complexities and challenges presented by digital art. Christie's also noted some positive feedback on social media regarding the auction.
Of the auction participants, 37% were first-time Christie's registrants, and 48% of bidders were Millennials and Gen Z. This demonstrates a strong interest in digital art among younger demographics. The highest-selling work was Machine Hallucinations – ISS Dream A by Refik Anadol, which sold for $277,200. This piece used over 1.2 million images from the International Space Station and satellites as its dataset.
Another notable work was Embedded Studies 1 & 2, a collaboration between Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, which sold for $94,500. This piece was trained on modified images of Herndon herself and was featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial.
With the advancement of AI technology, the art world faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This auction undoubtedly ignited a new discussion at the intersection of art and technology.
Key Highlights:
🖌️ Over 5,600 artists signed an open letter demanding Christie's cancel its AI art auction, citing copyright infringement.
💰 Christie's AI art auction achieved total sales of $728,784, with the top-selling piece, Machine Hallucinations, fetching $277,200.
🌍 37% of participants were first-time registrants, and 48% of bidders were young Millennials and Gen Z, reflecting their interest in digital art.