The Umia machine is billed as the world’s first ‘AI manicure machine’ – Lara Owen gives her verdict
Artificial intelligence has penned novels, navigated cars and crafted portraits. So, it was only a matter of time before it turned its hand to nails. Enter Umia, touted as the world’s first ‘AI manicure machine’.
At first sight, it resembles more of a dystopian coffee machine than a beauty gadget: a matte white box compact enough to perch on a desk, with a tidy slot for a single finger. The procedure, I’m informed, takes precisely 100 seconds per nail, regardless of whether you opt for a simple shade or a complex pattern.
Yet, the assertion of an ‘AI manicure’ left me sceptical. Was this genuinely artificial intelligence, or merely a sophisticated printer with a smart marketing spin?
The procedure
Upon arrival, I was welcomed by Umia’s representative, Audrey Dong, who clarified that the device provides solely the painting aspect of a manicure – not the filing, shaping or cuticle care that nail technicians carry out.
“It’s a gel manicure,” said Dong. “So, it will last around 10 to 14 days. You place your finger inside and the machine’s camera scans your nail to understand its size, curvature and location – we call it your ‘nail DNA’.
“Then it applies three coats – base, colour and top – and cures them as it goes. When your hand comes out, it’s shiny and dry.” Sure enough, as the machine whirred into action, I slipped my finger into the box and a small camera flashed.
A delicate mist of polish was sprayed across my nail in layers so fine I couldn’t feel a thing. The only sensation came from the gentle warmth of the UV light that set the gel, which wasn’t uncomfortable – in fact, it barely felt like it was doing anything.
True to its promise, each nail took 100 seconds, covering scanning, painting, and curing. By the time I completed all ten nails, I had a full gel manicure in less than 20 minutes.
The outcome
The finish was shiny and unexpectedly resilient – though not perfect. Some of the more intricate designs were slightly blurred at the edges, and on a couple of nails, the polish missed a little, leaving a fine mist on my skin.
But overall, it was neat, durable, and definitely better than I’d expected from a machine without hands or eyes. That said, it’s not about to replace your local nail bar.
Umia doesn’t manage any of the preparatory steps, so you need to arrive with clean, prepped nails. “We’re not replacing technicians,” Dong said. “We’re offering something faster and more accessible.” Dong sees the future of Umia machines not in nail salons but in everyday places such as hair salons, coffee shops, spas and even airports.
She continued: “Because it only takes about 20 minutes for a full hand, you could use it while you wait for your coffee or your flight. It’ll also cost significantly less than a regular manicure – probably less than half the price.”
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The tech behind the polish
But the question of whether this was genuinely ‘AI’ or merely a high-tech printer still remained. To clarify this, I spoke with Modi Liu, Umia’s co-founder, who promptly explained that the machine does not utilise the large language models that power systems such as ChatGPT or Gemini.
“There’s no language processing or text-based AI,” Liu explained. “What we use is a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning model, built on more than 120,000 nail data points.”
Liu said this AI model allows Umia to recognise each nail’s width, length, curvature, and contours and distinguish between nail, cuticle, and skin. “Every nail is unique,” she added. “The AI ensures the design fits perfectly to your shape. That’s what makes it intelligent rather than just mechanical.”
The system also includes what Umia refers to as an ‘Adaptive Optimisation Algorithm’, which means it learns from each manicure it carries out. After every session, it gathers feedback data – such as delivery accuracy and design alignment – and uses this information to enhance future outcomes.
In theory, each coat it paints brings it one step closer to perfection. She continued: “Over time, it will recommend designs based on what you like – colours, patterns, styles. Every interaction helps it learn more about your taste.”
Umia is launching in the UK during British Beauty Week (October 18-26). It’s hosting a city-wide AI nail art scavenger hunt, with clues posted on social media and concealed locations unlocked via its new app.
It’s an intriguing nod to the increasing convergence of technology and beauty – and a reminder that AI is not only transforming our work but also how we look after ourselves.
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The verdict
It’s a captivating piece of kit and undeniably entertaining to watch in action. There’s something strangely hypnotic about seeing a machine carefully spray your nails with accuracy in near silence.
Whilst the results aren’t flawless, they are more than acceptable for a speedy, low-effort manicure. But for now, it remains more of a novelty than a substitute.
A salon visit still offers the attention, accuracy and skill that machines haven’t quite perfected – not to mention the human connection. Where Umia excels is in its promise: a portable, chemical-safe, quick-drying manicure that could slot neatly into the pace of modern life – something to do whilst you’re killing time in an airport, hair salon or café.
And whilst I’m still not entirely persuaded that spraying gel onto nails counts as ‘artificial intelligence’, there’s no denying it’s a fascinating peek into the future of beauty technology.