Meta is conducting tests with robotic systems designed to handle various data center operations, according to current and former employees at the company. The initiative involves equipment from vendors including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. Specific applications under evaluation include using a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm for power cycling servers and testing alternative robots for network cable management. One worker estimated successful deployment could replace approximately 80 percent of certain technical roles. Additional testing involves simpler automation, such as robots capable of remotely pressing power buttons on devices to trigger restarts.
Meta has publicly stated its position that the company is actively hiring and training workers for data center operations, with a company spokesperson asserting the nation faces a shortage of skilled workers in infrastructure development. However, the company’s robotics leadership has previously outlined longer-term objectives for autonomous systems in data centers, citing potential benefits in incident response speed, environmental monitoring, and maintenance operations. Technical barriers that previously limited robotic deployment in data centers—including high costs and equipment failures—have diminished as hardware prices declined and artificial intelligence capabilities advanced significantly.
The shift toward automation has generated concern among some workers. Internal communications at Meta’s Altoona, Iowa facility, which employs hundreds of staff members, have reflected anxieties about future job security. Some workers report concerns that Meta may simultaneously be developing technologies to reduce skill requirements, enabling the company to hire lower-wage personnel and consolidate certain roles in geographically advantageous locations. Industry observers note that while communities have negotiated tax incentives in exchange for data center job creation, the automation question has received limited attention from activist groups focused on data center expansion.
Proponents of robotic deployment argue the technology could eliminate repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks while enabling human workers to focus on more complex responsibilities. Industry figures suggest longer-term applications could include operating facilities in extreme environments such as underwater or space-based locations. Meta has launched training programs guaranteeing employment to graduates from its free certification courses in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work across multiple states. Local officials indicate automation concerns may become relevant as communities reassess tax policies and regulatory frameworks for data center development.
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