Nvidia CEO's Duck Robots Sell Out Before Christmas
Microducks became a holiday sensation after Jensen Huang demonstrated their playful abilities at a recent tech conference.
By Anastasia Volkova ·
A flock of tiny, waddling robots just stole the spotlight from the biggest tech company in the world.
Earlier this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took the stage at the GTC Berlin conference. He did not just talk about chips. He brought out a group of Microducks. The video of him playing with them spread quickly online. The little machines stomped their feet. They made small beeping sounds similar to R2-D2. On command, they sat down, fell over for a fake nap, and even performed somersaults. The charm was undeniable. By the following day, preorders for the devices had jumped past 20,000 units. Clem Delangue from Hugging Face confirmed these numbers on social media.
The timing is perfect for the holiday season. These robots are expected to be delivered before Christmas. That means they could become the most desired gift of the year. Delangue believes they might top the sales charts for robots this year. Interestingly, they may not just be a kids' toy. Promotional clips show adults enjoying them as well. This suggests a broader appeal beyond the typical tech gadget market.
The Microducks are open-source devices. They are made by Pollen Robotics. That company was bought by Hugging Face in 2025. Since Nvidia acquired Hugging Face in September, the robots are now part of the Nvidia family. This is the second robot product from the Hugging Face team. The first was the Reachy Mini, which was also well-received for its cute design.
The technology behind the ducks relies on Nvidia’s software stack. The robots were trained using simulations. These simulations taught them basic moves like walking, sitting, and standing. These tricks come pre-loaded in the device. Owners can also teach their ducks new skills. They can then share these custom tricks with the wider community of users.
This release offers a change of pace for the industry. The AI sector has faced a rough week. Many recent cyberattacks were blamed on artificial intelligence involvement. Some experts worry about the serious risks AI poses to the world. However, this video proves the technology can be fun. It is difficult to watch the ducks play without feeling the urge to buy one. The Microducks serve as a reminder that tech can be both powerful and playful.
Source: TechCrunch
