Meta's new coworkers don't need lunch breaks, just a power outlet
Meta is quietly testing robots inside its data centers to plug cables, power-cycle servers, and even hit the restart button on Mac Minis, using hardware from Kinova, ABB, and Watney Robotics. One worker estimates a successful rollout could wipe out up to 80% of certain jobs, warning "it's coming for us all." Meta insists it's hiring, not cutting, but robotics lead Eric Xu has openly said the "long-term goal" is robot-run facilities that could one day operate in extreme environments, even underwater or in space, since machines don't need breathable air or comfortable temps.
Why it matters
As AI infrastructure spending explodes, labor is one of the last big costs left to squeeze. If robots can safely handle server rooms, expect every major cloud provider to follow, reshaping thousands of data center jobs and pushing facilities into places humans could never work anyway.