The Egyptian authorities release the robotic artist “Ida”

The Egyptian authorities have released the robot artist “Aida”, who relies on artificial intelligence to draw artworks, after being detained by customs for several days.

Last week, authorities confiscated Aida, named after mathematician Ada Lovelace, for fear of spyware.

The robotic artist was held for ten days, which threatened an art exhibition she would perform at the Great Pyramid of Giza.

In a statement, the British Embassy in Cairo expressed its happiness to see the robot artist “Ida” after completing the customs clearance procedures.

She explained that “customs clearance procedures may take time, and are required before importing artwork or information technology equipment.”

The robot’s inventor, Aiden Miller, said that the authorities detained “Ada” after suspicions about her modem, before they raised doubts about the cameras in it.

Miller offered to remove the modem, but said he could not remove the cameras necessary for Idas ability to draw.

The artist uses artificial intelligence algorithms to turn what she records through the cameras into works of art.

“I can remove the modems, but I can’t really take her eyes off,” Miller told the Guardian.

He praised the British ambassador’s work, saying he “was working all night to get Ida free”, but noted that her late release made it difficult to prepare her for Thursday’s show.

Ida was supposed to participate in a contemporary art exhibition in the pyramids area.

Ida and its works were sent in special boxes for air travel, via air mail, to Cairo, to participate in the “Forever is Now” exhibition, which runs until the seventh of November.

Ida was completed in 2019, and its artworks have been displayed in British museums.