Inside Meta’s push to put robots to work in data centers

Meta is testing robots in its data centers to perform tasks typically done by human technicians, such as plugging in cables, resetting servers, and managing power cycling. The company is motivated to reduce labor costs as it rapidly expands its AI infrastructure spending, though it states that skilled worker shortages mean it needs more employees rather than fewer. One data center worker estimates that if successful, robots could replace up to 80 percent of some technicians' workloads, raising concerns among employees about job security. While robots were previously too expensive and unreliable for delicate data center work, recent advances in AI and cheaper hardware have made them more feasible, and other major tech companies are pursuing similar robotics investments.