Damien Hirst, known for pushing the boundaries of art with innovative projects, has embraced artificial intelligence to create "The Beautiful Paintings," a series that modernizes his iconic Spin Paintings from the 1990s. This new venture utilizes a generative algorithm to produce artworks that maintain the vibrancy and dynamic qualities of the original series, but with a digital twist. The project allowed collectors to engage directly in the creation process via a platform developed in collaboration with HENI, an arts and technology company. Here, individuals could customize their own pieces by selecting colors, spin styles, and canvas shapes, with the option to randomize these elements for a more unpredictable result​ (Artnet News)​​ (Artnet News)​​ (WIRED Middle East)​.

"The Beautiful Paintings" project not only signifies a blend of digital and physical art forms but also ventures into the realm of NFTs, offering collectors the choice between physical artworks and digital tokens minted on the Ethereum blockchain. This initiative saw immense success, selling over 5,500 pieces and generating $20 million in just nine days, underscoring the lucrative potential of merging art with blockchain technology. The sale featured a variety of artwork sizes and shapes, with circles proving to be more popular than squares and physical pieces preferred over their digital counterparts. Despite this, a significant number of digital artworks were also sold, highlighting the growing interest and acceptance of NFTs in the art world​ (Artnet News)​​ (WIRED Middle East)​.

Hirst's foray into AI-generated art with "The Beautiful Paintings" reflects his continuous exploration of art's boundaries and the evolving relationship between technology and creativity. By enabling collectors to participate in the artistic process through AI, Hirst not only democratizes art creation but also challenges traditional notions of authorship and originality in the digital age​ (Artnet News)​​ (Artnet News)​​ (WIRED Middle East)​.