Meta is experimenting with robotics to handle tasks like cabling and server resets in its data centers, aiming to manage labor costs as AI infrastructure investment grows.

Meta is testing various robots to perform routine data center tasks, including plugging in cables and power cycling servers. The initiative, which utilizes hardware from vendors like Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB, aims to manage labor costs and maintain operations as the company expands its AI infrastructure. While Meta declined to comment on specific tests, it maintains that it is actively hiring and training human workers to meet the industry's high demand for skilled labor.

Robotic Hardware and Testing

Meta is evaluating diverse robotic solutions across its facilities. Experiments include using Kinova Gen3 robotic arms for power cycling and deploying simple, finger-like robots to press physical power buttons on devices. In Altoona, Iowa, the company has tested dual-armed Watney robots for cabling work since June 2023. Additionally, four-wheel robots from ABB, equipped with scissor-lift risers and six-axis arms, are being tested at the Prometheus campus in New Albany, Ohio.

Operational Challenges and Labor Concerns

While some robots, such as inventory-tracking units, are already in use in Iowa and Virginia, they face limitations including slow speeds, difficulty navigating obstacles, and an inability to distinguish between colored indicator lights. Some workers express concern that automation could reduce the need for skilled technicians or lower job quality. Meta, however, emphasizes its commitment to workforce development, citing programs to train thousands of workers in electrical and mechanical trades.