Meta Tests Robots to Handle Data Center Work
The company says it needs more skilled workers as its AI infrastructure expands, but employees fear automation could reduce or eliminate some roles.
Meta is testing robots to handle some data center work. According to employees, the company is using robots from vendors including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB.
In one experiment, a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm is being evaluated for power cycling or cutting off electricity to servers. A different robot is being tested to swap networking cables. One Meta data center worker estimates that if successful, the bot could replace up to 80 percent of some people's workloads.
Meta declined to comment on the testing. A company spokesperson stated that Meta is investing heavily in training and hiring workers to build and operate its data centers, citing a shortage of skilled workers in the US.
Brief written by urgent.news from Decrypt, Techmeme — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
