Robot dogs increasingly used for security patrolling in the US

Robot dogs equipped with AI-integrated cameras are being deployed in the United States to patrol data centers, sports stadiums, and agricultural sites. While the technology involves high initial costs, companies are adopting these robots to reduce expenses; contracting robotic security can be between $80,000 and $130,000 cheaper per year than employing human guards for a 24/7 shift.

This shift towards automation poses risks to low-barrier employment. The security industry provides income for approximately 1.3 million people in the U.S., a workforce where 60.8% are people of color according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. The sector currently faces high turnover, with a median annual wage of $38,390 in 2024.

Damon Henry, CEO of Asylon, stated that the company has deployed approximately 50 robots across 25 customers nationwide, noting that staffing and training robots can be a burden on businesses. Enrique Lopezlira of the UC Berkeley Labor Center suggested that while roles may not disappear entirely, the human role will likely be pushed toward "those hardest, higher-stakes parts of the work."