Meta Deploys Robots in Data Centers Amid AI-Fueled Layoffs
Meta is testing robots that can perform various tasks in its data centers, including plugging in cables, rebooting servers, and inspecting equipment. The company has partnered with several suppliers, including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB, to source the hardware.
The robots are being tested at some Meta data center sites, where they can perform tasks such as cutting power to servers or swapping networking cables. However, a data center employee noted that while the machines could take over 80% of some people's workloads, they still cannot match the speed of humans.
Meta has been laying off employees in recent months, including about 8,000 workers in May 2026, and some current and former staff believe that the robots are part of a larger effort to reduce labor costs. The company's capital spending runs to $145 billion, and it is investing heavily in AI research.
Industry experts have warned that the increasing use of automation could lead to job losses and changes in the workforce. One expert predicted that by 2027, embodied AI could experience a 'ChatGPT moment', while another likened the potential impact of robots on jobs to a machine doing about 80% of work in an unfamiliar environment.