Phoenix

Phoenix from Sanctuary AI embodies the Canadian company's mission to create human-like general intelligence in robotic form. Now in its eighth generation, Phoenix represents years of iteration on both hardware and Carbon, Sanctuary's proprietary AI control system that aims to simulate human cognitive processes.

Standing 170 cm tall and weighing 70 kg, Phoenix features what Sanctuary claims are industry-leading robotic hands with 20 degrees of freedom that rival human hand dexterity. Proprietary haptic technology mimics the sense of touch, enabling fine manipulation that few other platforms can match. The robot supports a maximum payload of 25 kg, suitable for most manipulation tasks.

Carbon, Phoenix's AI brain, integrates a cognitive architecture that combines multiple AI approaches: symbolic and logical reasoning, large language models, deep learning, and reinforcement learning. The system translates natural language into real-world actions, enabling Phoenix to think, plan tasks, and engage in goal-seeking behaviors autonomously. CEO Geordie Rose describes Generation 7 as "the most closely analogous to a person of any available" system.

Founded in 2018 in Vancouver, Sanctuary AI has raised over C$100 million including a C$30 million Strategic Innovation Fund contribution from the Canadian government. While competitors focus on locomotion and mobility, Sanctuary deliberately prioritizes dexterous manipulation, betting that hands capable of human-level tasks will ultimately matter more than agile legs. This focused approach has produced demonstrations of Phoenix performing complex assembly, handling diverse objects, and adapting to new tasks through natural language instruction.