Genesis AI Secures $105M Seed Funding to Develop AI for Robots
▼ Summary
– Genesis AI, a robotics startup, raised $105 million in seed funding co-led by Eclipse Ventures and Khosla Ventures to develop a general-purpose AI model for robots.
– Founded by Zhou Xian and Théophile Gervet, Genesis aims to automate repetitive tasks like lab work and housekeeping using its AI model trained on synthetic data.
– The company uses a proprietary physics engine to generate synthetic data, overcoming the challenges of costly and time-consuming real-world data collection.
– Genesis’ synthetic data engine stems from an academic project involving 18 universities, and many participants from that project now form its core research team.
– Genesis plans to release its foundational model to the robotics community by the end of the year, competing with firms like Physical Intelligence and Skild AI.
Genesis AI, a robotics startup developing foundational AI models for robots, has secured an impressive $105 million in seed funding from prominent investors including Eclipse Ventures and Khosla Ventures. The company, founded just last December, aims to create a general-purpose AI system capable of automating diverse tasks, from scientific research to household chores.
The team behind Genesis AI brings deep expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence. Co-founder Zhou Xian, a Carnegie Mellon robotics Ph.D., previously led a multi-university research project that forms the backbone of the company’s proprietary physics engine. This technology generates synthetic training data, eliminating the need for costly real-world data collection. The startup’s second co-founder, Théophile Gervet, brings experience from Mistral, a leading French AI lab.
Unlike traditional AI models trained on text, robotics AI requires physical-world simulation to learn effectively. Genesis AI’s synthetic data approach accelerates development, giving it an edge over competitors relying on third-party tools like NVIDIA’s simulation software. The company has already assembled a team of over 20 researchers specializing in robotics, machine learning, and computer graphics, many of whom were involved in Xian’s earlier academic work.
The race to build general-purpose robotics AI is heating up, with rivals like Physical Intelligence and Skild AI securing massive funding rounds. However, Genesis AI’s unique synthetic data strategy has drawn investor confidence. Kanu Gulati, a partner at Khosla Ventures, emphasized the startup’s promising approach, calling it a bold bet on scalable robotics intelligence.
With offices in Silicon Valley and Paris, Genesis AI is rapidly advancing its technology. The company plans to release its foundational model to the robotics community by the end of this year, marking a critical step toward real-world deployment. If successful, its AI could redefine automation across industries, from manufacturing to domestic services.
(Source: TechCrunch)
