French robotics startup Genesis AI has introduced a new artificial intelligence model called GENE-26.5 alongside a highly dexterous robotic hand designed to mimic human movement and precision. The company aims to advance robotics capabilities across industrial sectors where fine motor control and adaptability are becoming increasingly important.
Founded in early 2025, Genesis AI is backed by major investors including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and French telecom billionaire Xavier Niel. The startup has already raised approximately $105 million in one of France’s largest seed funding rounds and is positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving humanoid robotics market.
The newly unveiled robotic hand is designed to closely replicate human anatomy and dexterity. Demonstrations released by the company showed the system performing tasks such as chopping tomatoes, cracking eggs with one hand, solving a Rubik’s Cube, wiring components, and even playing piano. According to the company, the AI model is compatible with multiple robot platforms rather than being limited to Genesis AI’s own hardware.
Genesis AI said the technology is aimed at industries including automotive manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, where robots increasingly need to handle delicate and highly variable tasks. The company is reportedly in advanced discussions with potential customers in France, Germany, and Italy, although specific partners have not been disclosed.
The startup is also building large-scale robotics datasets using sensor-equipped gloves that record human hand movements and tactile interactions. These datasets are used to train the AI systems to replicate fine motor skills and improve robotic manipulation performance.
The launch reflects intensifying global competition in humanoid robotics and embodied AI, with companies across Europe, China, and the United States racing to develop more capable robotic systems for industrial and commercial use. Analysts view highly dexterous robotic hands as one of the most important technological barriers to achieving broader real-world deployment of humanoid robots.
