20,000 preorders: Microduck robots surge after Nvidia chief demo

Preorders for the Microduck robot have climbed past the 20,000 unit mark following a viral appearance by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the GTC Berlin conference earlier this week. The rapid uptake suggests the small, waddling device is positioning itself as a dominant holiday item ahead of the Christmas season.

The momentum was triggered by footage of Huang interacting with a group of the robots during his keynote presentation. The units demonstrated a variety of programmed behaviors, including sitting, falling over for a simulated nap, and performing somersaults in response to voice commands. They also emitted small mechanical sounds, adding to their charm and helping the video gain significant traction online.

Clem Delangue of Hugging Face confirmed the preorder milestone in a recent social media post. He noted that the device is expected to be delivered in time for the holidays. Delangue expressed confidence that the Microduck could become the best-selling robot of the year, with the potential to appeal to a broad demographic rather than just children.

Promotional materials for the product highlight adult users engaging with the robots, reinforcing the idea that the device serves as a novelty item for a wider market. The timing of the release aligns with the peak shopping period, giving the product a strong window to capture consumer spending before the year ends.

The corporate structure behind the Microduck involves a recent series of acquisitions that place the product directly within the Nvidia ecosystem. Pollen Robotics, the original developer, was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Nvidia subsequently purchased Hugging Face in September, making the Microduck part of the GPU giant’s portfolio. This is the second robot to emerge from the Hugging Face division, following the earlier launch of the Reachy Mini.

From a technical standpoint, the Microducks operate on open source hardware. They were trained using Nvidia’s technology stack, where simulated versions of the robots learned foundational movements such as walking, sitting, and standing. These pre-loaded tricks are included in the shipping configuration, providing immediate functionality for new owners.

Pollen Robotics has designed the platform to allow for community-driven expansion. Owners can train their specific units on new maneuvers and then share those data sets with the broader user base. This open approach may foster a larger ecosystem of user-generated content, potentially increasing the longevity and market share of the device.

The arrival of the Microduck provides a contrast to recent news cycles in the AI sector, which have focused heavily on security concerns and cyberattacks linked to AI involvement. While the industry grapples with these serious issues, the Microduck serves as a tangible, consumer-friendly example of the technology in a domestic setting. The combination of technical utility and playful design has driven the current spike in commercial interest.