Meta is testing robots from vendors including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB to perform data center tasks like plugging in cables, resetting servers, and power cycling equipment. According to current and former workers, one Kinova Gen3 robotic arm could replace up to 80 percent of some technicians’ workloads. A simple finger-like robot is also being used to restart devices like Mac Minis.

Meta spokesperson Francis Brennan emphasized the company’s investment in hiring and training workers amid a national infrastructure boom and skilled labor shortage. However, Eric Xu, senior manager for robotics at Meta, stated at a conference last year that the long-term goal is to deploy robots for faster incident response, environmental monitoring, and preventative maintenance. Advances in AI and lower hardware costs have made robots more viable for delicate data center work, which previously risked damaging equipment.

Proponents argue robots could handle repetitive or dangerous tasks, freeing humans for complex work, and enable operations in extreme environments like underwater or in space. Analog Devices’ Paul Golding noted customer interest in humanoid robots for running data centers in harsh conditions. The testing remains undisclosed by Meta, which declined to comment on the specific projects.