Meta Tests Robots for Data Center Tasks

Meta is testing robots for data center tasks, raising worker concerns.

Meta is reportedly testing robots to perform tasks such as swapping cables and resetting servers within its data centers. This effort, which has not been previously reported, aims to potentially reduce human labor in Meta's expanding data center footprint, managing labor costs as AI infrastructure spending increases. The company is utilizing robots and hardware from vendors including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB.

Experiments include evaluating a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm for power cycling servers and testing another robot for swapping networking cables. One Meta data center worker estimates that a successful robot could replace up to 80 percent of some workloads. Additionally, a simpler robot resembling a finger is used to remotely press power buttons on devices like Mac Minis for restarts. While Meta declined to comment on the testing, company spokesperson Francis Brennan stated Meta is investing in training and hiring workers for data centers.

However, Eric Xu, Meta's senior manager for robotics, previously stated the company's "long-term goals" include deploying robots in data centers to improve incident response, environmental monitoring, and preventative maintenance. The viability of robots in data centers has increased due to cheaper hardware and more capable AI models. This development could lead to more consistent output at lower costs, especially in regions with worker shortages, and potentially enable data centers in environments inhospitable to humans.

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