French Robotics Startup Genesis AI Unveils Versatile Robot Model and Human-Like Hand
By Leo Marchandon
May 6 (Reuters) — Genesis AI, a French robotics startup backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and telecoms tycoon Xavier Niel, unveiled on Wednesday an artificial intelligence model designed to make robots more adaptable across different hardware platforms, alongside a human-like robotic hand capable of tasks ranging from chopping tomatoes to solving a Rubik's Cube.
Co-founded by Theophile Gervet, a former researcher at French AI lab Mistral, the company says its model, called GENE-26.5, can run robots made by other manufacturers — a departure from the closed, proprietary systems that dominate the industry. The startup is already in advanced talks with potential customers in France, Germany and Italy, and expects to sign multi-year engagements in sectors like automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals and logistics.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for European industry. With governments across the continent pushing to reindustrialize and reduce dependence on Asian manufacturing, demand for flexible robotics is climbing. Germany's Schaeffler said this week 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 its initial funding round — one of the largest ever for a French startup and matching the record seed round of Mistral AI, Europe's leading AI company. Backers also include state investment bank Bpifrance.
Europe First Strategy
Gervet told Reuters the company deliberately chose to focus on Europe. “There were two big reasons. The first one was the talent base,” he said. “The second reason was the industrial base as a market for us.”
Genesis is targeting sectors where conventional robots struggle with delicate or variable tasks — such as wire harnessing, which involves bundling and taping cables in complex patterns. The company says it is signing customers but declined to name them. Engagements typically run three to five years, depending on client needs, said Vivian Sun, vice president of commercial and strategy.
To build better training data, Genesis is also working with partners to collect real-world motion data from tens of thousands of industrial workers using sensor-equipped gloves.
Human-Like Hand: A Competitive Edge
Genesis' robotic hand is designed to more closely mirror human anatomy than standard industrial grippers, enabling more direct transfer of human motion to machines. In a video reviewed by Reuters, the robot hand cut tomatoes, cracked eggs, solved a Rubik's Cube and played the piano — showcasing a level of dexterity that could unlock new applications in assembly, food processing and logistics.
The launch puts Genesis in direct competition with China's Linkerbot, which Reuters reported is targeting a $6 billion valuation as demand grows for highly dexterous robotic hands. Both companies are racing to bring human-like manipulation to industrial settings.
Genesis said it expects to raise more capital but that a public listing remains premature for now.
Industry Reactions
“This is exactly the kind of innovation Europe needs to stop being a factory floor for Asian robotics,” said Clara Dubois, a Paris-based automation consultant. “But the real test is whether they can scale production and undercut Chinese pricing — that's where most European startups fail.”
Dr. Markus Voss, a robotics researcher at TU Munich, offered a more measured take: “The GENE-26.5 model is technically impressive, especially its cross-platform compatibility. But the hand, while flashy, is still far from matching human dexterity in unstructured environments. It's a promising step, not a revolution.”
Elena Rossi, a supply chain manager at a Milan-based electronics manufacturer, was blunt: “I've seen a dozen 'human-like' hands in the last five years. Most couldn't survive a week on a real production line. Show me it works at scale, then I'll get excited.”