Umia is making its UK debut in London during British Beauty Week (October 18-26)
Artificial intelligence has authored books, driven cars, produced art – so it was perhaps only a matter of time before it branched into nail care. Enter Umia, claimed to be the world’s first ‘AI manicure device’.
Initially, it appears more like a dystopian espresso machine than a beauty device: a matte white box compact enough to sit on a desk, featuring a precise slot for a single finger. The process, I’m informed, takes exactly 100 seconds per nail, whether you opt for a simple colour or a detailed design.
However, I remained sceptical about the so-called ‘AI manicure. ‘ Was this truly a result of artificial intelligence, or simply an advanced printer with some savvy marketing behind it?
The process
When I arrived, Umia’s representative, Audrey Dong, greeted me and clarified that the device provides only the painting component of a manicure, excluding tasks like filing, shaping, or cuticle care performed by nail technicians.
“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.” As the machine started up, I inserted my finger into the box, and a tiny camera flashed.
A thin mist of polish was sprayed onto my nails in extremely fine layers, so light I couldn’t feel it at all. The only sensation was the gentle warmth of the UV light curing the gel, which wasn’t uncomfortable – in fact, it almost felt like it wasn’t doing anything.
As promised, each nail took exactly 100 seconds to complete, covering scanning, painting, and curing. By the time I completed all ten nails, I had a complete gel manicure in less than 20 minutes.
The result
The finish was glossy and surprisingly durable – though not perfect. Some of the more detailed designs were a little blurred at the edges, and on a couple of nails, the polish was slightly uneven, leaving a fine mist on my skin.
But overall, it was clever, tough, 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 salon. Umia doesn’t handle any of the preparatory steps, and 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 went on: “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.”
The technology behind the nails
However, the question remained whether this was truly ‘AI’ or merely a sophisticated printer. To clarify, I spoke with Modi Liu, Umia’s co-founder, who explained that the machine does not utilise large language models like those behind 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.”
This AI model, Liu said, allows Umia to recognise each nail’s width, length, curvature and contours, and to 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 includes what Umia refers to as an ‘Adaptive Optimisation Algorithm,’ which learns from every manicure it executes. After each session, it gathers feedback data—such as delivery precision and design consistency—and uses this to enhance its future performance. In essence, each coat it applies helps it move closer to achieving perfection.
Liu mentioned that Umia’s upcoming app will feature Reinforcement Learning, a type of AI that enables the system to adapt based on user behaviour and preferences.
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.”
Fittingly, Umia is debuting in the UK during British Beauty Week (October 18-26). It is hosting a city-wide AI nail art scavenger hunt, with clues shared on social media and secret venues unveiled through its new app.
It’s an intriguing nod to the increasing convergence between technology and beauty – and a reminder that AI is not only transforming the way we work but also how we look after ourselves.
The verdict
It’s a fascinating piece of technology and undeniably fun to watch in action. There’s something oddly mesmerising about seeing a machine delicately spray your nails with precision in near silence. While the results aren’t flawless, they are more than passable for a quick, low-effort manicure.
But for now, it remains more of a novelty than a replacement. A salon visit still offers the care, precision and artistry that machines haven’t quite mastered – not to mention the human connection.
Where Umia succeeds is in its potential: a portable, chemical-safe, quick-drying manicure that could fit neatly into the rhythm of modern life – something to do while you’re buying time in an airport, hair salon or cafe.
While I’m still not entirely convinced that spraying gel onto nails counts as ‘artificial intelligence’, it’s an intriguing glimpse into the future of beauty tech.
