Meta is testing robots to carry out physical tasks in its data centres, including restarting equipment, cutting power to servers and swapping network cables. The experiments could improve response times and ease skills shortages, but workers fear they may substantially reduce some technical roles and undermine the employment benefits companies cite when seeking public support.

The company is reportedly using equipment from vendors including Kinova, ABB and Watney Robotics; one worker estimated a cable-swapping robot could replace up to 80% of parts of some jobs. Meta says it is still investing in hiring and training, while its robotics team sees long-term potential for robots to monitor facilities and perform preventative maintenance. Cheaper hardware and stronger AI are making such automation more feasible, potentially enabling data centres to operate in harsher environments, at higher temperatures or even without lighting.