Meta is Looking to Replace Data Centre Workers with Robots

According to a new report from Wired, Meta has quietly started deploying specialized robots inside its server facilities to automate repetitive physical maintenance tasks.

The social media giant is said to be testing robotic hardware capable of swapping networking cables, power-cycling frozen servers, and reseating hardware components.

The initiative aims to streamline physical operations across Meta’s global infrastructure as it races to build out heavy compute power for artificial intelligence. However, current and former workers indicate that automating these routine tasks could eventually replace up to 80% of specific technician workloads.

Data center maintenance has historically relied heavily on human site technicians. When a server goes offline or a network cable fails, a technician walks down long rows of server racks to physically unplug cables, push power buttons, or replace malfunctioning blades.

Meta is attempting to turn that manual process into an automated workflow. The company is running pilot programs with hardware from several robotics firms, including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB.

Unsurprisingly, the automated push is creating tension among Meta’s on-site workforce. Current technicians have voiced concerns in internal chat groups that routine maintenance jobs could vanish within a few years.

At the same time, Meta is reportedly developing internal AI tools to guide lower-skilled workers through complex tasks. Staff members worry the company is shifting away from hiring experienced troubleshooting technicians in favour of lower-paid “smart hands,” or entry-level workers who simply carry out real-time instructions generated by an AI agent when the robots hit a snag.

Meta declined to comment officially on the ongoing trials, but internal sources confirm the company’s long-term goal is to make physical infrastructure management as automated as its software systems.