Nvidia & Hugging Face Microduck Robots Surpass 20,000 Pre-Orders Before Christmas
By Ali Al-Montaser — Senior AI Technical Editor
Nvidia and Hugging Face announced that Microduck open-source robots have surpassed 20,000 pre-orders in under 24 hours after debuting at GTC Berlin. Produced by Pollen Robotics and trained via NVIDIA RTX Spark, the robots are set to ship before Christmas 2025. The milestone signals a shift in consumer robotics from professional to mass-market toys.
Executive Overview
Nvidia and Hugging Face have announced that pre-orders for the open-source Microduck robots have surpassed 20,000 units in less than 24 hours after their debut at the GTC Berlin conference. The robots, produced by Pollen Robotics, are trained via the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform and are scheduled to ship before Christmas 2025. This milestone underscores a significant shift in consumer robotics from professional-grade devices to mass-market entertainment and educational tools.
📊 Official Technical Specifications & Data Sheet
| Technical Aspect | Confirmed Official Data |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing & Usage Cost | Unit price has not been officially announced in the TechCrunch statement; pre-orders are open via Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics channels, with final pricing expected to be announced upon shipping before Christmas 2025. |
| 🌐 Platforms & Immediate Availability | Open-source physical hardware shipped globally; pre-order via Hugging Face/Pollen Robotics; training via NVIDIA RTX Spark platform and AI agents. |
| ⚡ Performance & Speed Metrics | 20,000+ pre-orders in less than 24 hours; trained movements: walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, summer sault via voice commands. |
| 🛡️ Security & Hack Resistance | Open-source hardware customizable by owner; no official statements on specific security standards or prompt injection resistance in the launch statement. |
| 🧠 Context Window (Memory) | Not applicable — physical robotic product, not a language model; controlled via voice commands and AI agents on RTX Spark. |
| 🌍 Arabic Language & Regional Support | No official Arabic support for voice commands announced; commands demonstrated in English. Availability depends on Hugging Face international shipping channels. |
Deep-Dive Features & Architecture
The Microduck robots made their first public appearance at Jensen Huang's keynote at GTC Berlin, where they performed walking, sitting, standing, lying down to sleep, and a summer sault in response to voice commands, accompanied by sounds mimicking R2-D2. The video quickly went viral, and according to a tweet from Clément Delangue (Hugging Face), pre-orders exceeded 20,000 units the following day, putting it on track to be the best-selling robot of 2025 according to his estimate.
Technically, the robots were trained in a simulation environment using Nvidia's toolkit and operate via AI agents on the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform to transfer movements from simulation to the real world. The devices are open-source, allowing owners to train new movements and share them with the community—a community-driven development model that enhances the platform's long-term value.
Benchmark & Competitive Performance
Microduck is Hugging Face's second robot after Reachy Mini and is part of a wave of low-cost consumer robots. The standout record is 20,000 pre-orders in less than 24 hours, indicating market demand far exceeding traditional professional categories. No comparative sales figures are publicly available for Reachy Mini or direct competitors in the same segment, but the pre-order volume positions Microduck at the forefront of gift robots for the 2025 season.
Industry Impact & Enterprise Adoption
Microduck represents a shift in Nvidia's strategy from AI infrastructure to tangible consumer products, with a record 20,000+ pre-orders before official launch. For the Arab developer, its value lies in being an open-source platform for learning robotics and voice control. The entry cost is relatively low compared to professional platforms, making it a suitable educational tool for schools, universities, and innovation centers in the Arab region. The lack of official Arabic voice command support presents an opportunity for regional developers to build an open Arabic command layer on top of the platform. Additionally, its affiliation with Nvidia enhances compatibility with generative AI tools popular in the Arab market.
Conclusion
Microduck marks a turning point in Nvidia's strategy from AI infrastructure to tangible consumer products, with a record 20,000+ pre-orders before official launch. Next steps to watch include final pricing, shipping availability in Arab markets, and the potential addition of non-English language support for voice commands.
Media Source: TechCrunch AI | Fact Verification & Analysis: AI Tools Oasis
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-orders have exceeded 20,000 units, according to a statement from Clément Delangue of Hugging Face, within the day following Jensen Huang's presentation at GTC Berlin.
They are produced by Pollen Robotics, which was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Nvidia then acquired Hugging Face in September 2025, making Microduck an Nvidia-affiliated product.
Orders are expected to be delivered in time for Christmas 2025, according to TechCrunch citing Hugging Face.
The robots were trained in simulation using Nvidia's technology stack and operate via AI agents on the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform to transfer motion from simulation to reality. Core movements include walking, sitting, standing, lying down to sleep, and a summer sault, all controlled by voice commands.
Yes, Microduck is open-source hardware, allowing owners to train new movements and share them with the community. It is Hugging Face's second robot after Reachy Mini.
AI Tools Oasis Team
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