Meta is reportedly conducting pilot testing of robots aimed at the maintenance and management of the data centers that support its AI systems.
The pilot tests include tasks such as replacing network cables, restarting servers, and inspecting equipment. The robots utilize products from companies such as Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. It is also reported that some facilities have introduced systems where robots equipped with rod-like components are remotely operated to press device power buttons to trigger restarts.
Challenges also exist.
Issues such as obstacles, battery life, and dense cable wiring have been pointed out. Furthermore, employees have expressed concerns regarding the possibility that robots could replace up to 80% of tasks in certain job roles.
A Meta spokesperson said that the company continues to focus on hiring and training employees to address the shortage of skilled workers. The company also launched a training program for data center construction in June 2026.
Meanwhile, Eric Xu, a senior manager of robotics at Meta, stated that the long-term goal of introducing robots to data centers is to enable faster incident response and preventive maintenance.
--- Source: Meta is testing robots to handle tasks like data center cable replacement and server resets (GIGAZINE, 2026-08-31)