Christie’s, one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses, has a rich history dating back to 1766. Renowned for selling fine art, antiques, and luxury items, Christie’s has continually adapted to changes in the art market — including the introduction of art created by artificial intelligence.
The Groundbreaking Sale of AI Art
In 2018, Christie’s made headlines by becoming the first major auction house to sell a piece of AI-generated artwork. The portrait, titled “Edmond de Belamy”, was created by the Paris-based collective Obvious using a machine learning algorithm known as a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN).
This historical auction fetched an astonishing $432,500 — far exceeding the estimated $7,000–$10,000 value — and sparked a global conversation about the intersection of technology and creativity.
How AI Creates Art RECAP
AI-generated art typically involves training an algorithm on a dataset of existing artworks. The algorithm learns patterns and styles and then generates new images based on that training. One popular approach is the GAN model, which pits two neural networks against each other — one to create and one to critique — in a process that mimics human learning.
Tools like DeepArt, Runway ML, and Playform make AI art accessible to creatives, allowing them to experiment with machine learning without extensive coding skills.
AI’s Role in the Future of Auctions
Christie’s continues to explore the boundaries of digital and AI art, hosting events such as Art + Tech Summit: AI, which brings together innovators from across the tech and art worlds. This intersection of AI and fine art is reshaping the definition of authorship, creativity, and even value in the art market.
With the rise of NFTs and blockchain integration into art sales, AI art is poised to become an even more influential part of the global market. Learn more about these trends on platforms like Artsy and Art Market Monitor
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