Hugging Face is selling a cute $399 open source duck robot, Microduck
Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. This comes as Hugging Face's Microduck, an open-source bipedal robot developed with Pollen Robotics, sees strong commercial demand. The $399 device has sold over 10,000 units in less than a week, generating more than $4 million in sales. While preorders are open, delivery timelines now extend past Christmas 2026. The robot is designed as a development platform for physical AI, allowing users to train skills and transfer behaviors from simulation to hardware.
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- ✓ Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
- ✓ The Microduck robot is priced at $399.
- ✓ Microduck has sold more than 10,000 units in less than a week.
- ✓ The robot is a collaboration between Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics.
What changed
Nvidia agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion and Microduck sales surpassed 10,000 units.
Live updates
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Nvidia acquires Hugging Face as Microduck robot sales exceed 10,000 units
Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. This comes as Hugging Face's Microduck, an open-source bipedal robot developed with Pollen Robotics, sees strong commercial demand. The $399 device has sold over 10,000 units in less than a week, generating more than $4 million in sales. While preorders are open, delivery timelines now extend past Christmas 2026. The robot is designed as a development platform for physical AI, allowing users to train skills and transfer behaviors from simulation to hardware.
Why it matters
Hugging Face built its business on free AI models before this acquisition. The Microduck aims to democratize robotics by providing low-cost hardware that integrates with the company's pre-trained AI model ecosystem.
What is confirmed
- Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
- The Microduck robot is priced at $399.
- Microduck has sold more than 10,000 units in less than a week.
- The robot is a collaboration between Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics.
Still unconfirmed
- The robot can skate and lift approximately 100 grams.
What to watch next
- Details on the integration of Hugging Face into Nvidia's operations under Jensen Huang.
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (8)
- mashable.com — Olivia Tauber
- thenextweb.com — Hugging Face built a $4.5 billion empire on free AI models. Now Nvidia is buying it for $12.9 billion
- eu.36kr.com — Hugging Face is thrown in at the deep end, with a price tag of just $399.
- eu.36kr.com — Few people could have imagined that the Cambrian explosion of embodied intelligence began with a duck.
- thenextweb.com — Hugging Face is selling a $399 robot duck with open-source software
- newatlas.com — Adorable waddling robot can pick up stuff and learn new tricks
- tech.yahoo.com — Hugging Face's $399 Microduck robot has already sold more than 10,000 units
- finance.yahoo.com — Hugging Face Microduck robot sells 10,000 units, powered by Chinese chip
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Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics launch open-source Microduck robot
Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics have released Microduck, an open-source bipedal robot priced at $399. The 25-centimeter-tall device serves as a development platform for physical AI and reinforcement learning, allowing users to transfer behaviors from simulation to hardware. Initial demand was high, with Hugging Face reporting over $2.6 million in sales within the first 24 hours, leading to a current order backlog. The robot features capabilities such as singing, waddling, and playing soccer.
Why it matters
The project aims to move physical AI development from controlled laboratories into home environments. By providing an open-source reinforcement learning stack, the companies intend to democratize how developers train new robotic behaviors.
What is confirmed
- The Microduck is an open-source biped robot priced at $399.
- The robot stands 25 centimeters tall.
- Microduck is designed as a platform for experimenting with reinforcement learning and physical AI.
- Hugging Face reported sales exceeding $2.6 million in the first 24 hours.
Still unconfirmed
- The robot can skate and sing.
- The robot can play soccer.
- There is currently a sales backlog.
What to watch next
- Shipping dates for the initial backlog of preorders
- Release of community-developed reinforcement learning behaviors
- Expansion of the Pollen Robotics hardware line
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (10)
- www.ign.com — Here's Your Last Chance to Get a Nintendo Switch 2 Console for $399.99 Before the September 1 Price Hike
- TechCrunch — Hugging Face is selling a cute $399 open source duck robot, Microduck
- The Register — Hugging Face offers $399 robot duck to help you quack the AI code
- Bloomberg.com — Hugging Face Unveils $400 Singing, Skating Duck-Like Robot
- IEEE Spectrum — Adorable Microduck Robot Roller Skates and Plays Soccer
- Axios — Hugging Face debuts Microduck, an adorable $399 waddling robot
- Business Insider — Hugging Face says sales for its robot ducks topped $2.6 million in 24 hours. Now there's a backlog.
- theaiinsider.tech — Hugging Face’s Pollen Robotics Releases Small, Cute & Open-Source ‘Microduck’ Robot
- digitalmarketreports.com — Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics Launch $399 Open-Source Microduck Robot
- www.martincid.com — Hugging Face bets a $399 duck will prove physical AI belongs at home, not in a lab
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