Microduck Robots Surge to 20,000 Preorders After Nvidia CEO Demo

For consumers planning holiday gift purchases, a new wave of small, AI-powered robots has emerged as a top contender. Following a widely shared video from this week, preorders for the Microduck units have already exceeded 20,000. The devices are scheduled for delivery in time for Christmas, positioning them as potential best-sellers in the robotic toy category, with promotional materials suggesting significant appeal to adults as well as children.

The surge in interest began during Nvidia’s GTC Berlin conference earlier this week. Jensen Huang, the company’s chief executive, was filmed interacting with a group of the small robots during his keynote address. In the footage, the devices waddle, make sounds reminiscent of the droid R2-D2 from the Star Wars franchise, and perform specific actions such as sitting, falling over to simulate a nap, and executing somersaults in response to voice commands. The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the attention of both tech enthusiasts and the general public.

The rapid adoption of the Microducks follows a series of corporate acquisitions that shaped their current market position. The robots are originally the product of Pollen Robotics, a company that was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Subsequently, Nvidia purchased Hugging Face in September, effectively bringing the Microduck line under the GPU giant’s umbrella. This makes the Microducks the second robotic product from the Hugging Face portfolio, following the similarly designed Reachy Mini.

From a technical standpoint, the Microducks are built on open-source hardware. They were developed using Nvidia’s proprietary technology stack. During the production process, digital simulations of the robots were trained to perform a set of basic maneuvers, including walking, sitting, and standing, which are pre-installed on the physical units. Pollen Robotics has indicated that owners will have the ability to teach their devices new behaviors and share these custom programs with the broader user community.

The timing of the release has coincided with a turbulent period for the artificial intelligence industry. Earlier in the week, the sector faced scrutiny as AI involvement was linked to a series of high-profile cyberattacks. Amidst this backdrop of security concerns, the lighthearted demonstration of the Microducks provided a contrast to the prevailing anxiety, highlighting the consumer-friendly and entertaining aspects of the technology.

Clem Delangue, a representative of Hugging Face, noted the rapid increase in sales via social media. He suggested that the Microducks could finish as the best-selling robot of the year. The broad demographic appeal is a key factor in this projection, as marketing efforts have emphasized the novelty of the devices for adult users who may not typically purchase toys.

With the holiday season approaching, retailers and consumers are watching the Microduck phenomenon closely. The combination of viral marketing, corporate backing from Nvidia, and the novelty of interactive, open-source robotics has created a unique market moment. As deliveries begin, the performance of these units could set a new standard for AI-integrated consumer hardware.

The success of the Microducks also signals a shift in how major tech firms approach consumer robotics. By leveraging existing AI infrastructure to create accessible, entertaining devices, companies are demonstrating that advanced technology can be both functional and playful. This trend may encourage further innovation in the space, with more firms looking to bring AI-driven companions to the mainstream market in the coming months.