Meta Tests Robots That Could Replace Human Workers at Data Centres

Meta is testing robots that can plug in cables and reset servers at data centres, sparking concerns among workers that they will soon be replaced. Whistleblowers told Wired the social media giant is working with several firms on robotics technology as its investment in AI infrastructure soars. One robot being tested to swap networking cables could fulfil up to 80% of some staffers' workloads, according to one Meta data centre employee.

Meta Tests Robots That Could Replace Human Workers at Data Centres ‘They no longer want people who can think independently.’ by Sophia Sheera https://novaramedia.com/contributor/sophia-sheera/ 4 September 2026 Meta is testing robots that can plug in cables and reset servers at data centres, sparking concerns among workers that they will soon be replaced. Whistleblowers told Wired https://www.wired.com/story/inside-metas-experiments-with-data-center-robots/ the social media giant is working with several firms on robotics technology as its investment in AI infrastructure soars. In the face of widespread opposition https://novaramedia.com/2026/08/28/zack-polanski-calls-for-temporary-ban-on-energy-guzzling-data-centres/ to new data centres https://novaramedia.com/2026/08/12/native-american-tribe-bans-construction-of-hyperscale-data-centres/ , which drive up household bills, pollute groundwater and raise local temperatures, some advocates https://novaramedia.com/2026/09/01/trump-lashes-out-at-data-centre-opponents-youll-end-up-backwards-and-poor/ have argued that they are worthwhile because they create local jobs. Tugger robots, which can move heavy racks around data centres, are already in use at Meta data centres in US states including Iowa and Virginia, according to those familiar with the projects. Inventory robots are also being used to inspect failures, although they reportedly struggle to get around corners. In Altoona, Iowa, morale among workers is low. One person familiar with staff group chats said the general sentiment was that they were “all going to be gone in a few years anyway because of the robots”. Meta engineers are assessing whether a robotic arm from Kinova Robotics can be trusted to turn electronic devices on and off. Another robot being tested to swap networking cables could fulfil up to 80% of some staffers’ workloads, according to one Meta data centre employee. “We thought those of us performing the physical tasks were safe for a while, but not anymore,” the worker said. “It’s coming for us all, unfortunately.” By 2023, Meta was already operating robots programmed to track inventory and independently plan their own routes, engineers told https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJdX5EMn0wc the Open Compute Project. In a video published at the time, one senior staffer said that Meta’s robotic innovations would be shared “with the industry”. Meta spokesperson Francis Brennan said the company is training and hiring workers to operate its data centres. “We need more workers, not fewer,” he said. But not all workers are convinced. “They no longer want people who can think independently, come up with creative solutions, or perform complex troubleshooting,” said one. “They want ‘smart hands,’ people who are just capable enough to follow AI instructions and not mess anything up.” Sophia Sheera is a journalist in Novara Media’s social media team.