Genesis AI Unveils Robotics Model And Human-Like Hand
French robotics startup Genesis AI on Wednesday introduced a new artificial intelligence model designed to make robots more adaptable across industries, alongside a human-like robotic hand capable of performing complex tasks.
The company, backed by former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, said its GENE-26.5 model can operate a wide variety of robots, including machines built by other manufacturers.
Genesis AI was co-founded by former Mistral researcher Theophile Gervet. The startup said it is already in advanced discussions with potential customers in France, Germany and Italy.
The launch comes as Europe intensifies efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on Asian industrial supply chains.
Europe Positioned At Centre Of Strategy
Genesis AI said Europe remains its primary focus because of the region’s engineering talent and strong industrial base.
Gervet told Reuters that access to skilled researchers and manufacturers played a decisive role in the company’s strategy.
The startup is targeting sectors including automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals and logistics. These industries increasingly require robots capable of handling delicate or unpredictable tasks that traditional industrial systems often struggle to manage.
One example is wire harnessing, a process involving the bundling and taping of cables, which demands precise and adaptable movements.
Genesis declined to identify customers currently testing the technology. However, the company said commercial engagements are expected to last between three and five years depending on client requirements.
Vivian Sun, vice president of commercial and strategy, said Genesis is actively signing customers as it expands across European markets.
Robotics Demand Continues To Grow
The unveiling also reflects growing momentum in the industrial robotics sector across Europe.
German engineering group Schaeffler said earlier this week that it expects its robotics order book to reach hundreds of millions of euros by 2030.
Founded in early 2025, Genesis AI raised $105 million in seed funding, making it one of the largest initial fundraising rounds in France’s technology sector.
The funding matched the record seed round achieved by Mistral AI, widely regarded as Europe’s leading artificial intelligence company. Investors in Genesis also include French state investment bank Bpifrance.
Meanwhile, the company is working with partners to create large robotics datasets aimed at improving machine learning performance.
Genesis said it is collecting real-world operational data from tens of thousands of industrial workers through sensor-equipped gloves that record human hand movements.
Human-Like Robotic Hand Demonstrated
Genesis also showcased a robotic hand designed to replicate human anatomy more closely than standard robotic grippers.
The company said the design allows more accurate transfer of human motion into robotic actions, improving dexterity and precision.
In demonstration footage viewed by Reuters, the robotic hand performed tasks including chopping tomatoes, cracking eggs, solving a Rubik’s Cube and playing the piano.
The launch places Genesis in direct competition with Chinese robotics company Linkerbot, which is reportedly targeting a valuation of $6 billion amid rising investor interest in advanced robotic manipulation systems.
Both companies are developing technologies intended to improve human-like movement in industrial robotics applications.
Genesis AI said it expects to raise additional funding in the future, although the company added that plans for a public listing remain premature.
With inputs from Reuters