Meta is introducing robots into data centers that support artificial intelligence services. According to WIRED, these devices have been used for tasks such as testing and replacing network cables, restarting servers, inspecting equipment, and moving racks. As AI continues to expand its infrastructure, such automated tools have also drawn attention to changes in data center job roles.
The testing scope has covered multiple operational and maintenance tasks.
The report mentions that the robots tested by Meta come from several companies, including Watney Robotics from San Francisco, Kinova from Quebec, and ABB from Zurich. The current testing scenarios mainly focus on repetitive tasks within server rooms.
- Replace network cables
- Restart the server.
- Inspect device status
In addition, some devices are also attempting to move server racks. However, at this stage, robots still require human supervision, and their performance is limited when encountering obstacles, battery life issues, visual recognition challenges, and dense wiring.
Still unable to achieve the efficiency of manual work.
An interviewed employee estimated that if the robots for replacing cables become fully mature, up to about 80% of the work in certain positions could potentially be replaced. However, this is just the individual judgment of the employee and not an official prediction from Meta.
The report also points out that the current speed of such robots is still not comparable to that of humans, and they still rely on the cooperation of technical personnel for complex maintenance tasks. In other words, the tests with Meta are more about having robots undertake some standardized processes, rather than immediately replacing on-site employees entirely.
Automation coexists with concerns about job positions
As the construction of the AI data center intensifies, employees are concerned that automation may reduce the demand for senior technical personnel, and that some of the remaining work will be shifted to positions with lower salaries, where tasks will be carried out according to instructions generated by AI.
However, the reasons given by those in favor of automation are different. Relevant companies generally emphasize that data centers, factories, and construction sites are all facing a shortage of labor, and robots are more suitable for undertaking repetitive or high-risk tasks. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has previously referred to data centers as “factories” and envisioned a future where they will be operated jointly by humans, software agents, and robots.
Apart from Meta, robots are also entering the testing phase in more industries. Bedrock Robotics has deployed automated construction equipment, and Mercedes-Benz has also tested humanoid robots for repetitive labor in factories.
Robot tax discussion heats up again
As this trend of automation continues to advance, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, proposed this week that taxes should be imposed on robots and AI tokens. He believes that the current tax system may make machines cheaper than employees, thereby accelerating the replacement of jobs.
Judging from the current situation, the data center robots of Meta are still in the early testing phase and are not yet capable of independently completing key tasks without human intervention. However, as the company continues to expand the infrastructure of AI, whether automation will create more jobs or reduce existing positions has become a focal point of concern for the outside world.
