Robot dog walks a real dog in San Francisco, video shows

Who is behind the robot dog walker?

Nobody knows yet. It is unclear whether the robot belongs to a new dog-walking service or whether someone is simply testing the technology for personal use. Another observer noted that a person, probably the dog's owner, was walking right behind the robot. So this was not a robot left to roam the city alone.

Robots on the sidewalk are already normal

People in the Los Angeles area are used to delivery robots rolling down the street with meals. Some have even helped free one that got stuck on a curb. A robot dog in San Francisco is a small step from that.

Other home robots are around too. A company called Tau Robotics offers humanoid robots that can be sent to homes or offices. They are controlled remotely by humans, who use them for chores such as vacuuming floors, wiping tables and surfaces, cleaning toilets and taking out the trash.

For now, the Mission Bay video raises more questions than it answers. We don't know who built the robot, whether anyone pays for it, or whether you will be able to book one. What it does show is a leash-free glimpse of how quickly robots are showing up in ordinary street scenes.