Meta is testing robots designed to perform routine data center tasks including plugging cables, rebooting servers, and inspecting equipment. The company sources the hardware from robotics firms Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB, according to current and former staff members.
The pilot systems include a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm configured to cut power to servers and a separate machine being tested to swap networking cables. Meta has also deployed a finger-like device that remotely presses power buttons on Mac Mini computers to trigger reboots.
One Meta data center employee estimated that a functional cable-swapping robot could handle 80% of certain technician workloads, though acknowledged the machine has not yet matched human speed. Workers expressed concern about job security, with one stating the technology "is coming for us all."
Some employees said Meta is simultaneously developing software to hire lower-skilled staff and relocate certain roles to lower-cost locations like Denver. The company is reportedly seeking "smart hands"—workers who can execute AI-generated instructions without errors.
The robotics face current limitations including difficulty navigating obstacles, short battery life, challenges with visual inspections, and problems operating in tightly packed cable environments. Previous industry trials have resulted in equipment damage.
Meta's robotics effort aligns with Eric Xu, the company's senior manager for robotics, who stated last year that deployed robots could accelerate incident response, environmental monitoring, and preventative maintenance in data centers.
The pilot program follows Meta's May 2026 layoff of approximately 8,000 employees—roughly 10% of its workforce—including data center staff. The company cited AI spending priorities, with capital expenditure forecasted between $125 billion and $145 billion for the year.
