Meta has started testing robots to perform technical tasks in its data centers. The machines connect and replace cables, restart servers, and maintain equipment, according to WIRED, citing current and former company employees.
For these experiments, Meta is using equipment from Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. Specifically, Meta is testing the Kinova Gen3 robotic arm for restarting and disconnecting servers from power, and another system for replacing network cables.
Some facilities have also introduced a simpler mechanism resembling a “finger” that, upon remote command from an employee, presses the power button on Mac Minis and other devices to reboot them.
A data center employee believes that if successfully implemented, the cable-replacing robot could handle up to 80% of the workload in certain positions.
“We thought those of us doing physical work would be safe for a while, but not anymore,” a WIRED source said.
Meta declined to comment on specific trials.
Robots Still Lag Behind Humans
The company has been using some automation for several years. In Meta’s data centers in Iowa and Virginia, USA, autonomous machines transport heavy server racks, and wheeled robots are used for equipment inventory.
These robots are also employed to detect malfunctions, but their capabilities are limited. Their cameras operate in grayscale, making it difficult to distinguish between red and green indicators.
Robots face challenges navigating turns and moving over floor-laid cables, and they require human assistance to move between buildings.
According to WIRED sources, the devices work slower than employees and are idle during charging. Meta has also concluded that current systems are not suitable for some complex tasks, including laying large numbers of cables for Nvidia GB300-based supercomputers.
Since June 2025, the company has been testing two dual-arm Watney robots for cable work on its campus in Altoona, Iowa. They currently operate under human supervision and are slower than human workers.
At the new Prometheus campus in New Albany, Ohio, Meta is testing four-wheeled ABB machines with a lifting mechanism and a six-axis robotic arm. These are used to reposition displaced components and may gain more autonomy in the future.
Employees Fear Job Cuts
WIRED sources reported employee concerns about potential job cuts. Some employees also believe that the advancement of robotics and AI tools could allow Meta to delegate some responsibilities to less skilled personnel.
However, company representative Francis Brennan stated that Meta continues to hire and train specialists for the construction and operation of data centers.
“We need more workers, not fewer,” he emphasized.
In 2026, the company launched a program offering free training in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work. Meta guarantees employment for graduates in several states.
Earlier, in January, Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of Meta Compute, a new initiative aimed at strengthening the company’s AI infrastructure.
