There has been a recent viral video circulating where an artificial intelligence-sculpted robot cut a Renaissance marble statue with precision. Created by Monumental Labs and shared on social media, the video has left the world questioning how artificial intelligence will be used in art and whether human creativity is under threat in the future.

The Viral Video

Monumental Labs posted an Instagram video on 21st March 2025 featuring an AI robot constructing a marble statue of a statue titled 'St. Joseph.' The robot is skillfully carving the marble and also using water sprays to create fine lines, highlighting the combination of ancient artistry and modern technology.

Public Reaction

The video quickly went viral, eliciting a spectrum of reactions from viewers. Many expressed apprehensions about AI encroaching upon human artistic domains. One user commented, "Ah, so now AI makes sculptures too. What a time to be alive. The tech world must be over the moon. Finally, their beloved machines can 'create art.' Such joy. Such innovation. Truly, who needs a soul when you’ve got code?"

Others complained about what the AI would be used for, with one claim that there was another purpose the technology could be used for. They claimed that instead of sculpt, sing, or paint, they could have the AI clean up trash, do dishes, and heal disease. Which were all things PEOPLE chose to do for sheer HAPPINESS?

Monumental Labs' Response

In order to respond to the criticism, Monumental Labs clarified what the robot is doing in the carving process. They mentioned that the robot only creates a rough cut of the general shape and that skilled human carvers take months using hand tools to get the finish. These are their words, "'This RoBot is NOT Michelangelo!' No kidding! On this statue of St. Joseph, the robot merely sketched out the general shape. Now, our carvers will work for months with hand carving tools to create the final shape."

Broader Implications

The application of AI to art is not a solo trend. Robots are employed in a workshop in Carrara, Italy, to make sculptures, and eyebrows are being raised among classic craftsmen regarding how the Italian art tradition can be protected. It has opened up debate on a grand scale on balancing technological advancement and the preservation of human artwork.

The arrival of robot sculptors run by artificial intelligence has begun a multi-faceted debate, with some seeing it as the creative union of the old and the new, while others opine that it devalues the beauty of human imagination. As technology continues to advance, only time can tell what innovations the art scene will have to catch up on and at what speed the cut would be between artificial and human-made art.