Photo: Artificial Intelligence Tattoos Are Here

The makers of this AI-powered robot promise greater precision and less pain.

Blackdot, a startup based in Austin, Texas, has developed a new tattooing device that promises greater precision and less pain. Called AERO—for "Artist Enabled Robotic Operator"—the machine is now operating at Bang Bang, a high-end New York City parlor, and has already tattooed dozens of volunteers.

The tattoo artist community's response has been mixed, but founder Joel Pennington said the goal is to offer a more approachable experience for those put off by the traditional tattoo shop vibe.

Comments

[Chumby]

No matter which pattern, language, or text all tattoos send the same message:

Seeking Attention

[Crackers Boy]

That explains why almost all tats are hidden by shirts, sleeves and pant legs.

CB

[mad.casual]

This is one of those unresolvable, paradoxical non-sequiturs that just make the speaker look like a retarded (pseudo-)religious zealot.

Kinda like the tattoos of birthdays or other significant dates. If it's that important, wouldn't you remember it/tattoo it on your brain or do you routinely wake up without any sort of memory, look at your own tattoos and go "Oh! Right!"

[Incunabulum]

Most tattoos are on arms - most people wear short sleeves, necks, and the lower back where its exposed by high-cut shirts.

[mad.casual]

I may've mentioned it before, but I've seen a lot of tattoos that look like just a collection of doodles from a 7th grader's sketch book, mostly among younger, college-aged girls, and it makes me think the bar to tattooing is already too low.

Not that other tattoos look great or don't have the same "Seeking attention" message but at least, it's art (or gang demarcations or whatever).

[Chumby]

Sarc wanted to get a full scale tattoo of Jesse on him so he would look tall, well/groomed, and like a cop.

[Public Entelectual]

Now, thanks to AI, he can have it tastefully tattooed on the inside of his eyelids

[Chumby]

vvhatsupwiththat?

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

the goal is to offer a more approachable experience for those put off by the traditional tattoo shop vibe.

But the picture shows a “I’m about to be executed by lethal injection “ vibe.

[Eeyore]

At least the vibe is different.

[Kungpowderfinger]

Will be useful technology for when Americans bend over for their barcodes.

[Eeyore]

They are going to force us to bend over for our face tattoos?

[Liberty_Belle]

Now , you too can get a AI slop image with six fingers and backwards letters.

[Incunabulum]

Half the fun of getting a tattoo is being drunk (so you don't feel the pain) and seeing what the 'artist' fucked up once you sober up.

[AT]

Good. Put them out of business.

[Anrien69]

The idea of a robotic tattoo artist feels both fascinating and a little unsettling - technology keeps pushing into such personal, artistic spaces. It makes me think about how much of art is about human touch and connection, something a machine might never fully capture. I recently came across this post about https://skylum.com/blog/national-photography-day and it reminded me how tech and creativity often collide in unexpected ways. Have a look, they describe how tools evolve but the soul of the craft still depends on the person behind it, and I feel the same applies here. Maybe a robot can draw perfectly straight lines, but the real story comes from the human hand guiding the art.