Meta trials robotic arms to automate data center maintenance tasks
Meta is testing robots from vendors including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB to perform physical data center tasks such as power-cycling servers and swapping networking cables. Internal workers say one robotic arm being evaluated could eventually replace up to 80 percent of certain workers' tasks, while a simpler device already in use can remotely press power buttons to restart machines.
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As Meta pours massive sums into AI infrastructure, automating physical upkeep of data centers could meaningfully cut labor costs even as the company publicly emphasizes hiring more workers for its infrastructure boom. The move signals that automation pressures are extending beyond software and warehouse work into skilled physical maintenance roles, raising questions about job security for data center technicians industry-wide.
- Meta is testing robotic arms and tools from Kinova, ABB, and Watney Robotics for data center maintenance.
- Workers estimate the robots could eventually replace up to 80% of some physical maintenance tasks.
- Meta publicly says it needs more infrastructure workers, even as it quietly pilots automation to reduce reliance on human labor.
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Published there as: “Inside Meta’s Push to Put Robots to Work in Data Centers”
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