The device that lets Assassin’s Creed characters access genetic memories is called the Animus.
In the series, the Animus is a machine that allows a user to experience the genetic memories of ancestors. The technology forms the narrative bridge between modern-day characters and historical protagonists such as Altaïr, Ezio, Edward, and Bayek.
Desmond Miles uses an Animus in the early games while Abstergo Industries develops its own versions for research, surveillance, and entertainment. Later entries introduce related systems, including the Helix platform, but Helix is not the generic name for the memory-reading machine.
The concept of genetic memory is fictional and is used as a storytelling device rather than an established scientific process. The Animus also explains why players can move between contemporary scenes and historical settings within the same franchise.