Meta is actively exploring the integration of robotic systems to perform technical operations in its data centers. This involves machines capable of connecting and replacing cables, restarting servers, and maintaining equipment. This information is based on my analysis of insider data from current and former company employees.
As part of the experiments, the corporation is using equipment from Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. Of particular interest is the Kinova Gen3 robotic arm, which is being tested for restarting and powering off servers, as well as separate systems for replacing network cables. At some facilities, a simplified mechanism resembling a "finger" has appeared, which remotely presses the power button on devices like the Mac Mini to reboot them.
According to estimates from one data center employee, if successfully implemented, a cable-replacement robot could take on up to 80% of the workload in certain positions. This raises serious concerns among staff who previously considered physical labor protected from automation. "We thought those of us doing physical work would be safe for a while longer, but not anymore," one source noted. Meta has not officially commented on the details of the trials.
Limitations and Prospects
Partial automation has been in use at Meta for several years. Autonomous machines for transporting heavy server racks and wheeled robots for inventory operate in data centers in Iowa and Virginia. However, their capabilities are limited: cameras work in grayscale and cannot distinguish between red and green indicators, and navigating turns and cables poses difficulties.
Robots still lag behind humans in speed and require recharging, which reduces their efficiency. Meta has also acknowledged that current systems struggle with complex tasks, such as cabling for supercomputers based on Nvidia GB300. Since June 2025, two-armed Watney robots have been tested at the Altoona campus, and four-wheeled ABB machines with a lifting mechanism and six-axis arm in New Albany, Ohio. So far, all of them operate under human supervision.
Fear of Layoffs
Employees fear that the development of robotics and AI tools will allow Meta to delegate some duties to less qualified staff, leading to layoffs. However, company representative Francis Brennan claims the opposite: "We need more workers, not fewer." In 2026, Meta launched a free training program in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work with guaranteed employment in several states.
My expert perspective: despite the management's optimistic statements, data center robotization is an inevitable trend that will change the industry's employment structure in the long term. However, current technological limitations give workers a temporary advantage, and Meta appears to be striving to balance innovation with social responsibility.