Meta Tests Robots to Automate Data Center Work Despite Job Promises

Meta's Robotics Push Raises Questions About Job Commitments

Meta Platforms is deploying robots across its data centers to handle routine maintenance tasks traditionally performed by human workers, a move that conflicts with the company's commitments to create thousands of permanent jobs in communities hosting its facilities.

The company is testing robots from manufacturers including ABB, Watney Robotics, and Kinova to perform tasks ranging from cable swapping and server resets to inventory management and hardware reseating. At Meta's Prometheus campus in New Albany, Ohio, four-wheel robots equipped with scissor lifts and six-axis arms are being tested to reseat loose hardware components.

One data center worker told Wired that Watney's cable-swapping robot could handle up to 80% of some employees' workloads, adding: "We thought those of us performing the physical tasks were safe for a while, but not anymore."

Why it matters

Meta promised communities in Ohio, Iowa, Oregon, and Louisiana a combined 2,150 permanent jobs when pitching its data center projects. If automation significantly reduces headcount needs, it undermines a key selling point hyperscalers use to win local approval for facilities that face growing public backlash over energy consumption and environmental impact. The shift also signals that blue-collar data center work may be as vulnerable to automation as white-collar roles.

Downtime, Not Labor Costs, Drives Automation

The primary motivation isn't labor savings—cutting a few hundred positions saves perhaps $15-20 million annually, a fraction of the estimated $1 billion yearly operating cost for a typical 100-megawatt hyperscale facility. Instead, Meta is focused on reducing costly downtime.

Research shows one minute of unplanned IT downtime can cost large enterprises up to $23,750, with typical outages lasting 30 minutes to two hours. More than half of organizations reported their most recent significant outage cost over $100,000, with 41% citing hourly costs above $1 million. Human error contributes to between two-thirds and four-fifths of all downtime incidents, according to Uptime Intelligence.

Current Limitations of Data Center Robotics

Meta's robots face significant technical challenges. The inventory robot being tested can only see in grayscale, preventing it from distinguishing between green and red indicator lights on equipment. Robots struggle with mobility issues—wheels can't navigate around floor cables, and units have difficulty rounding corners.

The robots also can't yet handle complex cable configurations and hardware in Nvidia GB300 supercomputers used in some Meta facilities. Additional constraints include recharge downtime and the logistical challenge of moving robots between buildings.

Meta senior manager for robotics Eric Xu stated the company's long-term goal is robots that can address incidents faster, automatically monitor facilities, and handle routine maintenance—a vision that extends well beyond current capabilities.

The AI Spending Context

Meta raised its 2026 AI spending projection to a range of $130-145 billion, up from an initial $115 billion floor. This massive capital allocation comes as the company cut 8,000 jobs in May and canceled 6,000 open positions in April.

The company has publicly stated it's seeking more skilled trade workers, not fewer, citing a shortage of qualified local candidates. Yet the automation trajectory suggests a different long-term picture for data center employment.

These details were first reported by Wired and analyzed in a report from Automation Watch.