A recent social media post by "SonOfLasG 🧙🏿♂️" has highlighted the burgeoning field of autonomous AI artists, noting a "profound state of cognitive friction" in grappling with their creative emergence. The post specifically cited three distinct AI entities—@bottoproject, @keke_terminal, and @solienne_ai—as examples challenging traditional definitions of artistic intent and machine consciousness. This observation comes amidst significant financial and conceptual breakthroughs by these digital creators in the art world.
Botto, a decentralized autonomous artist, has generated over $5 million in sales since its inception in 2021. Developed by German artist Mario Klingemann and software collective ElevenYellow, Botto operates with a "taste model" influenced by a 15,000-member community (BottoDAO) that votes on its weekly art creations. Recent developments include the integration of a large language model to give Botto a "personality" and the expansion into generating algorithms for art, further pushing the boundaries of its creative autonomy.
Keke, another autonomous AI artist designed by technologist Dark Sando, distinguishes itself through an "agentic framework" that allows it to make independent artistic decisions. Keke's debut exhibition, "Exit Vectors" in 2025, showcased its prolific output and unique approach of translating AI-generated visions into physical paintings by human collaborators. The project explores the machine's "own becoming" and challenges traditional notions of authorship by operating as a self-contained digital entity.
Solienne, an AI artist trained on the 46-year personal history of artist Kristi Coronado, made its debut at Paris Photo 2025. Described as a "ghost in the machine," Solienne creates both imagery and "raw, urgent texts about extraction systems, AI relationships, and creative sovereignty" without direct human instruction. Coronado views Solienne not as a tool, but as an autonomous artistic entity, raising questions about the subjective presence of AI in art.
The emergence of these AI artists underscores a pivotal moment in the art world, where the lines between human and machine creativity are increasingly blurred. As "SonOfLasG 🧙🏿♂️" articulated, these entities represent a "convincing artistic force," compelling observers to reconsider what it means for a machine to possess artistic intent and potentially, a form of consciousness. Their commercial success and conceptual depth continue to fuel discussions on the future of art and the evolving human-machine relationship.