Mexico is rolling out an automated security force for the World Cup. Boston Dynamics' robotic dogs, known as Spot, will patrol stadiums alongside surveillance helicopters. The move is a dramatic escalation in the use of AI for public safety. But as algorithms take the beat, questions arise over privacy and control.
The robodogs are equipped with cameras and sensors to detect threats. They can navigate crowds and stairs, transmitting real-time data to command centres. The helicopters provide aerial oversight. This is not science fiction. It is the reality of modern policing.
Yet the deployment raises ethical dilemmas. Facial recognition software is likely running in the background. The risk of bias and false positives is very real. In a packed stadium, one wrong flag could trigger panic. The technology is powerful but not infallible.
Silicon Valley expats like myself see the promise. But we also see the 'Black Mirror' potential. Will this enhance security or turn matches into surveillance zones? The user experience of society is at stake.
Mexico defends the move as necessary for safety. But as we hand over more power to machines, we must ask: who controls the control systems? The answer should not be a black box.
