'A kind of magic': pop artist Peter Blake on using AI robots to create portraits in his 90s

While many younger artists fear the impact of artificial intelligence on their creativity and copyright, Sir Peter Blake, at the grand age of 91, has been inspired by the technology.

- Dalya Alberge

The British pop artist has collaborated with a robot powered by AI to create a series of portraits and says he is excited by the artistic possibilities of this "kind of magic".

Blake has been working with technicians in training a robot to convert photographic portraits of people into painted portraits within minutes. His work combines Al with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. Blake said he had watched in disbelief as a robot arm holding a large calligraphic brush created his own likeness on a canvas in just three minutes.

He told the Guardian: "It was fascinating to sit right by it and watch it being done. It's a good likeness ... It's exciting, the possibilities of what it will be able to do - it's endless."

Blake - who is known for creating the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, which features the Beatles alongside cardboard cutouts of famous people - said AI was a "mystery" to most people but he found himself intrigued by it.

"I don't totally understand it now," he said, "but anything we tested it with, it achieved. So I think it's a whole new open door of explorations ... Anything's possible."