PARIS: Genesis AI, a French robotics startup backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and telecoms tycoon Xavier Niel, on Wednesday unveiled an AI model designed to make robots more adaptable, along with a human-like robotic hand.

Co-founded by former Mistral researcher Theophile Gervet, the company said its GENE-26.5 model can run a range of robots, including those made by other companies. It is in advanced talks with potential customers in France, Germany and Italy.

The launch — alongside the robotic hand capable of tasks such as chopping tomatoes and solving a Rubik’s Cube — comes as Europe pushes to reindustrialise and cut reliance on Asian manufacturing.

Demand for industrial robotics is also rising. 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 an initial funding round, one of France’s largest and matching the record seed round of Mistral AI — Europe’s leading AI company. Backers also include state investment bank Bpifrance. Gervet said the company was prioritising 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 such as automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals and logistics, where conventional robots struggle with delicate or variable tasks such as wire harnessing, which involves bundling and taping cables.

The company said it is signing customers but declined to name them. Engagements will typically run three to five years, depending on client needs, said Vivian Sun, vice president of commercial and strategy.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026