The installation at Art Basel is framed as a critique of algorithmic control, merging machine perception with on-chain “memories.”

Lou Yan, the Fire Safety Manager of Yiwu Small Commodity City, stated: "The introduction of the robot dog serves as a vital enhancement to our traditional security framework. Its panoramic visibility and autonomous inspection capabilities have been instrumental in addressing long-standing security coverage gaps."

It's part of a special project that's using new tech to help manage and protect forests, and is being tested in woodlands around the world.

The robot's agility makes it valuable in standoffs and hazardous incidents, but civil liberties groups warn that semi-autonomous robots could reshape policing in troubling ways.