robot dogs with billionaires’ heads stomp around art basel
At Art Basel Miami 2025, digital artist Beeple brings over autonomous robot dogs wearing the lifelike heads of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and himself. On view in the digital art space Zero 10 between December 3rd and 7th, 2025, the AI-related installation named Regular Animals is a commentary on the effects of the tech giants’ platforms and their algorithms in influencing the way people see the world today. The space features the devices in a boxing ring-shaped area, where the mechanical pets stomp around and their heads bob up and down. But they’re not just moving back and forth.
The robot dogs at Art Basel Miami 2025 are also taking photos of what they see using their camera eyes. At some point, these mechanical pets fold their rear legs, and the screen on their back bodies displays the large text ‘POOP Mode.’ In a short while, a printed instant film of what they captured ejects from their bodies as an NFT artwork, with applied filters and effects that correspond to the artists’ and billionaires’ styles. It’s pop art for Andy Warhol, cubism for Pablo Picasso, black and white for Elon Musk, and a Metaverse-looking edit for Mark Zuckerberg.
all images courtesy of Art Basel, unless stated otherwise
Artistic commentary on algorithms defining what users see
For his installation at Art Basel Miami 2025, artist Beeple wants to highlight the evolving connection of technology and AI with humans (the real ones). Tech giants like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are there because the artist aims to underline how their social media platforms, X and Meta, respectively, are powered by algorithms that, these days, dictate what the user sees on their feed. By capturing and printing their surroundings, these robot dogs at Art Basel pull people to look down and look at the images and see just them. The work also attempts to show how robotic systems now perform tasks once linked only to humans.
For example, since they have built-in cameras that take photos of visitors, some photos will include a digital code that, when a visitor scans it, they can claim a free NFT. This direct connection between a physical action and a digital product shows how modern media can transfer value using technology. Zero 10, the space where the robot dogs are placed within the Art Basel Miami Beach 2025, is organized by curator Eli Scheinman, who says that the space is focused on new tools like robotics, AI, and generative media. The design of the space then puts the visitors within the path of the robots. There are no physical screens or controlled barriers separating the machines from the audience, creating a shared space where technology and the public meet in real time.
at Art Basel Miami 2025, Beeple brings ove robot dogs wearing the lifelike heads of tech-giant figures
view of Mark Zuckerberg’s lifelike head
Pablo Picasso’s mechanical pet is also present
detailed view of Elon Musk’s head at the Art Basel Miami installation space
the artwork is a commentary on the dominating presence of algorithms in people’s lives
the devices are on view at Miami Beach Convention Center | image courtesy of Beeple
project info:
name: Regular Animals
artist: Beeple | @beeple_crap
space: Zero 10
event: Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 | @artbasel
dates: December 3rd to 7th, 2025
location: Miami Beach Convention Center
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