Gene.01 is a humanoid from Generative Bionics, a Genoa-based spin-off of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). Its defining feature is a full-body tactile skin, and its first application is welding in Fincantieri shipyards.
History and launch
Generative Bionics announced Gene.01 at CES in Las Vegas in January 2026, when it was still a design. A working prototype was built in roughly six months and debuted at AMD Advancing AI 2026 in San Francisco on 22-23 July 2026.
The robot draws on more than two decades of IIT humanoid research, including iCub and ergoCub, and the company cites IIT work published in Nature Machine Intelligence.
Design and technology
A sensor network across the torso and limbs measures touch, temperature, proximity and force at the same time. This lets the robot react before it touches a person and grip objects firmly without crushing them.
Gene.01 is meant as a base platform that can be customized at three levels: task-specific AI, an exterior suited to the work environment, and end effectors such as hands, grippers or feet. Height, weight, degrees of freedom and payload have not been published.
Software and AI
The company calls its approach Physical AI, treating body, mechanics and motion control as one system. Force sensing allows teaching by physically guiding the arm, so the robot learns both the motion and the force a task requires.
The robot model and digital twin are distributed to developers through PyPI, Conda-forge and ROS.
Applications and deployments
Fincantieri is preparing the first industrial configuration, a shipyard welding humanoid with welding tools in place of hands. No series deliveries had been announced as of October 2026.
Manufacturer
Generative Bionics was founded in July 2024 in Genoa and is led by CEO Daniele Pucci. In December 2025 it closed a 70 million euro seed round led by CDP Venture Capital, with AMD Ventures, Duferco, Eni Next, RoboIT and Tether participating. It has an alliance with Germany's Synapticon to build a European actuator supply chain.
Price and availability
Pricing and a production schedule have not been announced.
Timeline
- 2024-07 Generative Bionics founded in Genoa as an IIT spin-off
- 2025-12 70 million euro seed round led by CDP Venture Capital
- 2026-01 Gene.01 announced at CES in Las Vegas
- 2026-07 Working prototype debuts at AMD Advancing AI 2026
Sources
- Generative Bionics' smart robot skin prevents collisions, New Atlas (2026-07-27)
- Generative Bionics: Gene.01 humanoid robot ready, Il Sole 24 Ore (2026-07-21)
- Generative Bionics unveils humanoid robot with full-body tactile sensing, ForkLog (2026-07-22)
Updated: 2026-10-10
Verification and limitations
This entry requires an up-to-date manufacturer specification check.
MERA field measurement report: not published. Demonstration footage and manufacturer specifications are not a MERA test under event conditions.
Data and provenance for AI agents ↗Compared with the catalogue
- It is the only Generative Bionics model in the catalogue and one of 2 humanoids from Italy.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Where is Gene.01 made?
In Italy, by Generative Bionics of Genoa, a spin-off of the Italian Institute of Technology.
What makes Gene.01 different?
A tactile skin covering the body that senses touch, temperature, proximity and force.
What will Gene.01 be used for?
Its first industrial version is a welding humanoid for Fincantieri shipyards.
How much does Gene.01 cost?
No price has been published.
Who invested in Generative Bionics?
A 70 million euro seed round led by CDP Venture Capital, with AMD Ventures, Eni Next, Tether and others.
How much does the Generative Bionics GENE.01 cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Generative Bionics GENE.01. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Generative Bionics GENE.01 available to buy?
Status: In development: the manufacturer has shown the robot but is not selling it openly yet.
How do I buy the Generative Bionics GENE.01 through MERA Robotics?
Click “I want to buy” or fill in the form on this page. MERA Robotics will reply whether and on what terms the model is available and can help deploy it with the MERA OS conversation system.
Data: Generative Bionics. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
