Irish Examiner View: Abba avatars show digital voyage is gathering speed but some people risk being left behind

The internet has not been designed with older people or those with disabilities in mind, which can lead to problems when transactions can only be handled digitally

A portrait entitled 'Algorithm Queen', painted by ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist Ai-Da, has been unveiled ahead of the platinum jubilee. The painting, titled , was painted by Ai-Da Robot an artificial intelligence robot built in 2019 that creates drawings, painting, and sculptures. Picture: Ai-Da and Aidan Meller/PA

The lifesize avatars (Abbatars) of the hugely popular Swedish group have made their debut on the London stage to massive acclaim and forecasts that we have witnessed the dawn of a new, immersive era in the world of performance.

At the same time the robot artist Ai-Da, fresh from her
exhibition at the Venice Biennial, has made her contribution to next week’s platinum jubilee celebrations with a portrait called ‘Algorithm Queen’. The AI, described as “the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist” is named after Ada Lovelace, the brilliant daughter of the poet Byron, who is generally regarded as the first computer programmer.