Meta Tests Data Center Robots for Cabling, Server Reboots, and Other Operations

IT Home, August 30 — According to Wired, multiple current and former Meta employees familiar with the project revealed that Meta is testing robots capable of plugging in cables, restarting servers, and performing other tasks within data centers. This previously unreported ongoing work could eventually allow Meta to operate its ever-expanding data centers with fewer workers, thereby controlling labor costs amid soaring investments in AI infrastructure.

These sources stated that Meta is using robots and related hardware from multiple vendors, including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. They requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. Kinova and ABB declined to comment, while Watney did not respond to requests for comment. In one experiment, Meta is evaluating whether the Kinova Gen3 robotic arm can be used to power-cycle servers, which involves cutting and then restoring power to the servers. Meta is also testing another robot to replace network cables. One Meta data center employee estimated that if successful, this robot could replace up to 80% of the workload for some employees. "We originally thought that employees responsible for these manual tasks would be safe, at least for now, but that's no longer the case," the employee said. "Unfortunately, it will eventually affect all of us." In some data centers, Meta has also quietly deployed another relatively simple robot. Resembling a finger or a small pointed stick, it can press the power button on a Mac Mini or other devices to reboot them after receiving remote commands from a human. Meta declined to comment on the robot testing described in this article. Company spokesperson Francis Brennan stated in a release that Meta is heavily investing in training and hiring employees to build and operate data centers. "The U.S. is in the midst of the largest infrastructure building boom since World War II, and there is a severe shortage of skilled workers to fill these positions; we need more workers, not fewer," he said. However, Eric Xu, a senior manager in Meta's robotics division, stated at a conference last year that deploying robots in data centers is a "long-term goal" for the company. He believed robots could speed up fault response, monitor environments, and perform preventive maintenance. "We believe more collaboration and research is needed, but we must take the first step, otherwise we have no chance of achieving this goal," he said. Until recently, robots were not well-suited for the delicate work required in data centers. One person familiar with the testing noted that in the past, robots were not only expensive but also crushed servers during early industry tests while performing simple tasks. Today, however, the cost of robotic hardware has dropped, and the AI models powering these robots are far more capable than they were a few years ago. Several startups are currently developing commercial robots capable of assembling servers, replacing components, and swapping cables. Compared to human labor, robots are expected to deliver more consistent results at a lower cost, particularly in sparsely populated areas where data centers are dense but qualified workers are scarce. Supporters also defend robots from a "worker assistance" perspective. They argue that just as AI agents are expected to help knowledge workers, robots can take over the most repetitive and dangerous tasks of data center technicians, allowing humans to focus on more complex issues. In the longer term, if data centers could operate without relying on human staff, deploying them underwater, in space, or in other environments unsuitable for long-term human survival could become more feasible. Paul Golding, who leads the so-called "physical intelligence" business at chipmaker Analog Devices, said: "More and more customers are telling us, 'We want to use humanoid robots to operate data centers,' because robots can work at higher temperatures, in dark environments, and offer many similar advantages." Robots Enter Data Centers, Rarely Becoming a Focus of Protest The growing prevalence of robots has not drawn much attention from environmental and community activists opposing data center construction. IT Home noted that a strong anti-data center movement is currently forming across the United States. Tech companies often cite job creation as a major benefit of building data centers, using it as a rationale to secure tax incentives. In Altoona, Iowa, Meta operates its largest data center campus, employing hundreds of workers. Opened in 2014, the campus benefits from local property tax incentives that will continue for several years, saving Meta tens of millions of dollars annually. The Altoona city government considers this a worthwhile trade-off, as the jobs brought by Meta have also boosted local visibility. However, in Altoona, a sense of gloom has begun to permeate Meta employee group chats. One person familiar with the discussions said employees frequently say, "We're all going to lose our jobs to robots in a few years anyway." Even if robots ultimately become widespread more slowly than expected, some employees still worry that the quality of existing jobs is declining. Two employees said Meta is developing AI software and other technologies that they believe will help the company hire less-skilled—and therefore lower-paid—workers, while consolidating some roles in areas more cost-effective for the company, such as Denver, Colorado. "They no longer need people who can think independently, propose creative solutions, or handle complex faults," said one Meta data center employee. "What they want are 'smart hands'—people who just need to have enough competence to follow AI instructions and not mess things up." Meta, however, emphasizes that its demand for skilled workers remains very strong. This year, Meta launched a long-term training program to annually train thousands of people from diverse backgrounds for free in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing skills. For those who complete the training, Meta has even promised job opportunities in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, and elsewhere. Meta has also partnered with construction trade unions to fund apprenticeship training programs. Nevertheless, as local communities reassess the tax incentives given to data centers and consider new regulations for the industry, the possibility of robots replacing at least some jobs may warrant more attention. Altoona Mayor Dean O'Connor told WIRED that he has not seriously considered the issue of robots potentially replacing jobs at Meta's data center. However, in his view, automation is inevitable. "When things happen, we deal with them," he said. The Cable Challenge In a 2023 YouTube video, Meta demonstrated that it is using autonomous tug robots to transport heavy server racks within its data centers. Meta also showcased an internally developed wheeled robot capable of reading barcodes to track inventory. The following year, Microsoft and Google separately announced investments in the data center robotics sector; Amazon also discussed using robots to help its facilities recycle parts last year. Ashley Llorens, Managing Director of Microsoft's research accelerator, told WIRED that Microsoft is "absolutely looking into" using robots for "economically valuable tasks" such as "replacing faulty server racks." According to sources, Meta's tug and inventory robots are currently operating in several of the company's data centers, including those in Iowa and Virginia. They noted that these robots generally operate well but still have some limitations. The inventory robot is also being used to inspect equipment faults, but because its camera only captures grayscale images, it cannot distinguish between green and red indicator lights on equipment, meaning some faults still require manual inspection. This robot also struggles with turning and crossing cables that frequently appear in its path. Since the number of deployed robots is currently small, they need to move between different buildings, a process that still requires humans to open doors and use remote controls to guide the robots through. Two other sources said the inventory robot also operates too slowly. One revealed that Meta had previously considered using drones as a faster alternative but ultimately did not pursue the idea. Altoona Becomes a Robot Testing Ground The Altoona data center campus is frequently used by Meta to test new technologies. "What they do here in Altoona, they take to other campuses and deploy there," said Altoona Mayor O'Connor. According to a person familiar with Meta's projects, since June of last year, Meta has been testing two dual-armed Watney robots in a data center building in Altoona to perform some wiring tasks. Supervised by humans, these robots currently work slower than humans but have shown potential. Founded in 2023, Watney previously showcased a robot capable of folding laundry, claiming it could also handle corporate cleaning tasks. However, according to historical archives of the company's website, the San Francisco-based startup quietly pivoted to the data center robotics sector early last year. Meta is also testing more robots at its new Prometheus data center campus in New Albany, Ohio. A person familiar with the product said four-wheeled robots manufactured by automation giant ABB have already been deployed there. Equipped with scissor-lift-like mechanisms and a six-axis robotic arm on top, these robots are currently used to reinstall and secure components. In the future, they could take on more tasks with gradually reduced human supervision. However, whether robots can ultimately outperform humans remains undecided. Helen Oleynikova, CEO of Exclaim Robotics, said the company is developing robot prototypes capable of replacing damaged parts and reorganizing data center cables, but "there have been many pilots and demonstrations, yet no proven solution that truly works reliably." Sources revealed that at Meta's data centers, some employees have complained that robots need to spend a significant amount of time stopping to charge their batteries, resulting in considerable downtime. Meta internally acknowledges that robots are currently unable to handle certain tasks, such as the intensive cabling required to run Nvidia GB300 supercomputers. "These devices have always been designed for human hands, with the aim of completing every repair within five minutes. Redesigning everything takes time," said a former Meta employee. But robots are also getting ready to take on more work.