Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains whether robot security guards are better or worse for society. AI technology seems to be finding its way into every industry from fast-food chains to delivering packages to automatic self-driving vehicles. Now, some companies are also incorporating AI security guards to keep their businesses safe. However, I'm not so sure these bots can be reliable. Let's see how the robot security experiments are turning into reality.

The newest member of Yelp's security team awakes just after 8 pm, ready to begin its rounds. It traverses the lobby, gliding over polished concrete toward a small recess in the corner, where it inspects the emergency exit tucked inside. Last year, burglars tried to breach the office by rending the door from the building, frame and all. The low-resolution camera mounted in the lobby saw nothing. "We couldn't see what was going on inside the alcove," says Rick Lee, Yelp's head of security, who joined me on my late-night visit to one of the company's San Francisco offices.

Cobalt Robotics has launched their stylish security robot. The robot was designed by Yves Behar and as a fabric covered robot, it's putting a new spin on soft robotics! Behar's goal was to create a robot that didn't conform to Hollywood stereotypes but instead as an augmentation of human ability and an enhancement to the human environment. "Creating the right form for Cobalt is crucial to its success. As a service for security and concierge, it becomes part of an office culture. This balance between approachability and discretion became a thematic challenge throughout the design process. We decided that the robot should not adopt a humanoid personality. Instead, it should aesthetically align with the furniture and décor of the office environment. The Cobalt robot's semi-cylindrical self-driving mechanism, sensors and cameras are covered by a tensile fabric skirt. This helps maximize the access and usability of the internal technologies, creates airflow to prevent overheating, and conveys a soft and friendly persona." said Behar.