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Meta is currently experimenting with robots designed to perform various tasks within its data centres, such as connecting cables and rebooting servers. This initiative aims to reduce the workforce needed to operate these facilities, ultimately helping to manage labour costs while simultaneously increasing investment in AI infrastructure.
According to insights from current and former employees involved in these projects, Meta is collaborating with multiple suppliers, including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB, for the development of these robots. Employees have requested anonymity, and while Kinova and ABB declined to comment, Watney has not responded to requests for further information.
Innovative Robotic Solutions in Data Management
In a specific trial, Meta is assessing the capabilities of a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm to turn servers on and off or to disconnect their power supply. Another robot is being tested for the task of replacing network cables. A data centre employee estimates that if successful, the robot could handle up to 80% of the workload of certain positions. “We thought those of us doing physical tasks were safe for a while, but that’s no longer the case,” the worker remarked.
Additionally, Meta has subtly introduced a simpler robot model that resembles a finger or slender stick, designed to press the power button on devices like Mac Minis to reboot them upon remote instruction from a human operator.
Despite the ongoing trials, Meta has refrained from commenting on the specifics of these tests. However, spokesperson Francis Brennan highlighted that the company is heavily investing in training and hiring personnel to construct and manage its data centres. “The US is experiencing the largest infrastructure boom since World War II, and there is a significant shortage of skilled workers to fill these roles; we need more workers, not fewer,” he stated.
Long-term Visions for Robotics Integration
During a conference last year, Eric Xu, Meta’s senior director of robotics, indicated that the company’s long-term goals include integrating robots into their data centres to enhance incident response, monitor environmental conditions, and conduct preventive maintenance. “We believe more collaboration and research will be necessary, but we must initiate these efforts; otherwise, we won’t have the opportunity to do so,” he noted.
Historically, robots have not been suitable for the delicate tasks performed in data centres due to their high cost and previous instances of malfunction, which sometimes led to damage to servers during trials. However, advancements in technology have made hardware more affordable, and AI models controlling these robots have become significantly more capable than in previous years. Numerous startups are currently developing commercial robots designed to assemble servers, replace components, and switch cables.
Robots may provide consistent performance at a lower cost than human labour, particularly in sparsely populated areas where data centres are plentiful yet skilled workers are scarce. Proponents of this shift argue that, similar to the impact of AI on knowledge workers, robots could take over the more repetitive and hazardous tasks faced by data centre technicians, allowing them to focus on more complex challenges. In the long run, the removal of human workers could facilitate the management of data centres located underwater, in space, or in other potentially inhospitable environments.
Concerns About Job Security and Automation
Despite the potential benefits of robotics, the increasing use of robots has garnered little attention from activists who are pushing back against the expansion of data centres. Tech companies often tout job creation as a primary advantage of their projects, using it to justify the tax breaks they receive. In Altoona, Iowa, Meta operates what is currently its largest data centre complex, employing hundreds of workers. The company opened these facilities in 2014 and continues to benefit from several years of property tax exemptions, saving millions annually. The city defends this benefit based on the jobs Meta generates and the prestige it brings to the area.
However, conversations among Meta workers in Altoona have taken a more pessimistic turn, with comments like, “We won’t be here in a few years because of the robots.” Even if the rollout of robots in these facilities is slower than anticipated, there are concerns that the quality of available jobs may be deteriorating. Two employees have indicated that Meta is developing AI software and other technologies that could enable the company to hire less qualified personnel at lower wages. There are also fears that some functions may be centralised in locations like Denver, Colorado, where costs are less burdensome for the company.
“They no longer want people capable of independent thought, creative problem-solving, or complex issue resolution. Instead, they want ‘smart hands’, individuals who can follow AI instructions without making mistakes,” explained one data centre worker.
Training Initiatives and Future Workforce Needs
In response to concerns about job displacement, Meta asserts that its demand for skilled workers remains high. This year, the company launched a long-term programme aimed at training thousands of individuals from diverse backgrounds in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing jobs, at no cost to them. Meta even guarantees job placements in states such as Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas for those who complete the training. Additionally, the company has partnered with construction unions to fund vocational training programmes.
As communities reconsider tax incentives for data centres and contemplate imposing new regulations on the industry, the prospect of robots replacing some jobs could become an increasingly pressing issue. Altoona’s mayor, Dean O’Connor, stated that he hasn’t given much thought to the possibility of robots taking jobs at Meta’s data centre, although he acknowledges that automation is inevitable. “We’ll address it as it comes,” he remarked.
Robotic Innovations and Current Challenges
In a 2023 YouTube video, Meta announced the deployment of an autonomous tug robot to transport heavy server racks within its data centres, alongside an internally developed wheeled robot equipped with a barcode scanner for inventory tracking. The following year, Microsoft and Google declared independent investments in robotics for their data centre operations, while Amazon also expressed intentions to utilise robots for recycling components at its facilities.
“Investing in robotics for economically valuable tasks, such as replacing a faulty server rack, is something we are exploring at Microsoft,” stated Ashley Llorens, the company’s general manager of research acceleration.
Meta’s tug and inventory robots are already operational in several of the company’s data centres, including those in Iowa and Virginia. Sources familiar with the projects report that while the robots are functioning adequately, they do face certain limitations.
Testing Robots for Future Data Centre Operations
The inventory robot is currently being used for fault inspections but struggles to differentiate between green and red indicator lights on equipment due to its grayscale camera, necessitating human checks for some issues. The device also encounters difficulties navigating corners and manoeuvring around the cables that often obstruct its wheels. Due to their limited number, the robots must be transported from one building to another, requiring a person to open doors and operate the robot via a remote control.
Two sources have described the inventory robot as somewhat sluggish. One source noted that Meta previously considered using drones as a faster alternative but ultimately decided against it.
Meta tests its robots primarily at the Altoona data centre campus. “What they do here, they later implement in their other locations,” O’Connor mentioned.
Future of Robotics in Data Centres
Since June, Meta has been trialling a pair of two-armed Watney robots to perform some cabling tasks in one of its Altoona buildings, according to individuals familiar with the company’s initiatives. These robots operate under human supervision and are not yet as fast as their human counterparts, but they show promise.
After its launch in 2023, Watney showcased a robot designed to fold laundry and claimed it could also handle cleaning tasks within businesses. The San Francisco startup discreetly shifted its focus towards data centre robotics early last year, as indicated by archived copies of its website.
Meta is also testing robots in New Albany, Ohio, at Prometheus, its latest data centre campus. These four-wheeled robots, manufactured by ABB, come equipped with a lift platform and a six-axis arm. Currently, they are used for moving parts, but over time, they could take on more responsibilities requiring less human oversight, according to a source familiar with the project.
However, the notion that robots will fully replace humans remains uncertain. “There have been many pilot projects and demonstrations, but no demonstrable functional solutions,” argues Helen Oleynikova, CEO of Exclaim Robotics, a company developing prototypes to replace faulty components and reconnect cables in data centres.
At Meta’s data centres, some workers have raised concerns about the downtime required for the robots to recharge their batteries. Meta has also acknowledged that the robots are not designed for certain tasks, such as the intensive cabling work needed to set up an NVIDIA GB300 supercomputer. “Historically, everything has been designed for human hands to fix in five minutes. Redesigning everything will take time, but robots are being prepared,” concluded a former Meta employee.
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