Recommended Free Tools
Christie’s “Augmented Intelligence” sale ran online from 20 February to 5 March 2025, with a concurrent exhibition at the auction house’s Rockefeller Center galleries in New York. It raised $728,784, according to Christie’s. Before and during the sale, thousands of artists and others signed an open letter urging Christie’s to cancel it, arguing that some AI models used to make the works had been trained on copyrighted material without permission or payment. The protest raised a real question about consent and compensation, but the available accounts do not establish the training-data provenance of every work in the auction.
What was Christie’s “Augmented Intelligence” auction?
Christie’s described “Augmented Intelligence” as its first auction devoted entirely to AI-created art at a major auction house. The online sale ran from 20 February through 5 March 2025, alongside an exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries in New York. The announcement described more than 20 lots; Christie’s later results release described more than 30. The completed sale included artists from early computer-art pioneer Harold Cohen to Refik Anadol, Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, Pindar Van Arman, Alexander Reben, Claire Silver and Sasha Stiles.
The works were not all made in the same way or presented in the same medium. Christie’s overview included painting, sculpture, prints, works on paper, screens, interactive works, light boxes and digitally native art. Its sale announcement and online sale overview describe the offerings.
Why did artists call the sale “mass theft”?
An open letter called on Christie’s to cancel the auction. It alleged that many works were made with models trained on copyrighted material without a license, and argued that commercial AI products exploit artists’ work without permission or payment. The letter said: “Your support of these models, and the people who use them, rewards and further incentivizes A.I. companies’ mass theft of human artists’ work.” “Mass theft” is the letter’s characterization of the practice it opposed, not a finding about every work in the sale.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
The protest’s concern was about how training data is sourced and whether creators consented to its use or received compensation—not simply whether a human artist had used an AI tool. The letter did not specify which lots it considered affected, according to Artnet News. The Art Newspaper reported more than 3,000 signatories on 10 February 2025; Artnet News reported more than 3,600 that day. Those are separate, dated counts rather than a final total.
Was the art trained on copyrighted images?
The sources establish that the open letter made that allegation about many of the works; they do not provide a lot-by-lot audit of training data, model licenses or artist consent. It therefore cannot be concluded from these accounts that every work used an unlicensed model—or that every model was trained only on material its creators had permission to use.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The artists’ methods varied. Christie’s said Pindar Van Arman’s “Emerging Faces” involved two AI agents and nine unique canvases. It described Herndon and Dryhurst’s “Embedding Study 1 & 2” as emerging from a text-to-image model trained on altered images of Herndon. Christie’s explainer traces earlier human-machine art experiments to Harold Cohen’s AARON program in the 1960s. Those examples show why “AI art” is not one process, but they do not settle the licensing history of every dataset or model in the sale.
What did Christie’s and participating artists say?
Christie’s spokesperson said the artists in the sale had strong multidisciplinary practices and used AI to enhance their work. Christie’s Director of Digital Art Sales Nicole Sales Giles put the house’s position this way: “AI is not a substitute for human creativity. It enhances the human spectrum of creativity.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Mat Dryhurst, whose work with Holly Herndon appeared in the auction, objected to focusing the debate on artists using the technology. Artnet News reported him saying: “It is not illegal to use any model to create artwork,” and, “I resent that an important debate that should be focused on companies and state policy is being focused on artists grappling with the technology of our time.” These are Dryhurst’s views, not a legal ruling or a complete account of copyright law. Refik Anadol said many artists in the auction used their own datasets and models. The available statements present different positions; they do not supply a comprehensive provenance record.
How much did the Christie’s AI art auction raise?
Christie’s reported a final sale total of $728,784. The Art Newspaper had reported a presale expectation of more than $600,000; that estimate was not the final result. Christie’s reported these individual results:
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Work | Presale estimate | Reported sale price |
|---|---|---|
| Refik Anadol, “Machine Hallucinations – ISS Dreams – A” | $150,000–$200,000, Christie’s sale announcement | $277,200, Christie’s results release |
| Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, “Embedding Study 1 & 2” | $70,000–$90,000, Christie’s sale announcement | $94,500, Christie’s results release |
Estimates and reported sale prices are different measures. Christie’s also said 37% of registrants were new to the house and 48% of bidders were Millennials and Gen Z. Those figures describe participation in this auction as reported by Christie’s; they do not establish broader market acceptance of AI art.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the controversy leaves unresolved
The dispute turns on questions that a sale total cannot answer: which datasets a model used, whether the material was licensed or used with consent, and how much a human artist directed or transformed the output. Christie’s and artists described AI as part of varied, human-led or collaborative practices; the protest challenged the data practices behind some models. Without lot-specific provenance and licensing documentation, the available public accounts do not resolve those claims for every work.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Christie’s sale announcement, results release and explainer provide the house’s account of the auction, its artists and selected methods. The protest and the differing signatory counts were reported by Artnet News and The Art Newspaper. Read together, they document both the completed sale and a dispute over consent and compensation whose specifics remain unsettled in the cited accounts.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
