<p>This study investigates the laser cutting characteristics of AISI 316L stainless steel, with particular emphasis on process responses and surface integrity achieved using a CO₂ laser system. The influence of key process parameters laser power, cutting speed, assist gas pressure, and focal position on kerf geometry and surface roughness was systematically examined. A structured experimental design based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to quantify both the individual and interactive effects of these parameters on kerf width, kerf taper, and surface finish. The developed models were subsequently integrated with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to determine the optimal combination of cutting conditions for enhanced performance. The results indicate that laser power and cutting speed predominantly govern variations in kerf width and taper, whereas assist gas pressure and focal position have a more pronounced effect on surface roughness. The GA-optimized parameter set yielded kerf taper values in the range of approximately 0.5–0.8° and surface roughness between 1.3 and 1.9&#xa0;μm, demonstrating significant improvement in cut quality and process consistency. Overall, the combined RSM–GA framework proves to be an effective tool for optimizing CO₂ laser cutting, supporting its application in high-precision manufacturing and advanced materials processing.</p>