Microduck preorders hit 20,000 after GTC Berlin demo

The Microduck robot accumulated 20,000 preorders within 24 hours of a viral demonstration at Nvidia's GTC Berlin conference. Clem Delangue of Hugging Face announced the sales figure on social media the day after the event.

During his keynote earlier this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang interacted with a group of the devices. The robots stomped their feet and emitted sounds resembling the droid R2-D2. On voice command, they performed actions including sitting, falling over, and executing somersaults. A video of this interaction circulated widely online.

Pollen Robotics manufactures the Microduck. Hugging Face acquired Pollen Robotics in 2025. Nvidia purchased Hugging Face in September 2026, making the robot an asset of the GPU maker. The device follows the Reachy Mini as the second robot developed under the Hugging Face umbrella.

The Microduck utilizes an open-source platform. Nvidia's technology stack trained the devices. Simulations taught the robots basic commands such as walking, sitting, and standing. Owners can program new behaviors and share them with the user community.

Hugging Face projects delivery of the units in time for Christmas. Delangue stated the robot could become the best-selling model of the year, potentially attracting adult buyers as well as children. Promotional materials feature adults interacting with the devices.

The release occurs while the AI industry faces scrutiny over its role in recent cyberattacks. The Microduck launch provides a distinct product focus for consumers.