Nvidia's Acquired Robot Ducks Top 20,000 Preorders After Berlin Keynote

Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue reported on Wednesday that preorders for the Microduck robot surpassed 20,000 units. The surge followed a viral video of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang interacting with the devices during the GTC Berlin keynote earlier this week. The small robots, which emit low-pitched mechanical sounds, performed actions such as sitting, falling over, and performing somersaults on voice command.

The timeline of the acquisition places the product squarely under Nvidia's corporate umbrella. Nvidia purchased Hugging Face in September 2025. Hugging Face had previously acquired Pollen Robotics, the manufacturer of the Microduck, in 2025. This makes the Microduck an Nvidia-owned product, marking the second robot in the Hugging Face lineup after the Reachy Mini.

Pollen Robotics trained the Microducks using Nvidia's technology stack. The company used simulations to teach the units basic movements, including walking, sitting, and standing, which are included in the initial firmware. Owners can program new tricks and share them with a community database, according to company documentation.

Delangue suggested in a tweet that the Microduck could become the best-selling robot of the year. He noted that promotional materials feature adults using the device, indicating a consumer base beyond children. The company expects to deliver the units in time for the Christmas holiday season.

The release coincides with a week in the AI industry marked by high-profile cyberattacks attributed to AI involvement. Despite the sector's recent troubles, the Microduck demo provided a lighter note for the audience. The video of Huang playing with the waddling units circulated widely on social media, driving the rapid increase in order volume.