Meta is testing robots to maintain data centers supporting its artificial intelligence systems, including machines designed to replace network cables, restart servers and inspect equipment. The company has evaluated robots from San Francisco-based Watney Robotics, Quebec-based Kinova and Zurich-based ABB, partly to reduce labor costs. One employee estimated that a successful cable-replacement robot could perform up to 80% of the work in some roles, although the machine is not yet as fast as a person. Employees are concerned that automation could reduce demand for experienced technicians and shift remaining tasks to lower-paid workers operating under AI instructions. A Meta spokesperson said the United States is experiencing its largest infrastructure boom since World War II and faces a severe shortage of skilled workers, meaning the company needs more workers rather than fewer. The robots still require human supervision and struggle with obstacles, battery life, visual inspections and dense cable handling. Nvidia and Alibaba are also developing systems to improve robot training. Wang Xiaogang, chairman of ACE Robotics, said embodied AI could reach a ChatGPT moment by the end of 2027. Separately, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has proposed taxing robots and AI tokens, arguing that the current tax system may make machines cheaper than employees.