Inside Meta’s Push to Put Robots to Work in Data Centers
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.
- Meta is testing robots for routine data-centre maintenance.
- Workers fear significant automation of physical technical tasks.
- Meta says skilled workers remain essential.
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Data centres house the computer servers and network equipment that run online services. They need constant monitoring, and technical staff may have to restart machines, cut power or replace cables when equipment fails.
Meta is a technology company that operates large data centres. It is exploring the use of robots from suppliers including Kinova, ABB and Watney Robotics to handle some physical tasks, while saying it continues to hire and train staff.
Automation could help operators respond to faults and maintain equipment, and may change the skills and number of workers needed for some roles. The issue matters because data centres support widely used digital services and can bring jobs to the places where they are built.
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The case for
Automating routine and physically demanding data-centre tasks could make facilities safer, speed up repairs and reduce downtime, while helping address shortages of specialist staff. If robots take on repetitive work and preventative maintenance, employees could focus on more complex tasks, and more efficient facilities might support continued investment and new technical roles.
The case against
If robots can take over substantial parts of jobs such as equipment resets and cable swaps, workers have reason to fear fewer roles, weaker job security and less need for the skills they have built. That concern also bears on companies’ claims that data centres benefit local communities through employment, especially if hiring and training do not offset the work automation removes.