Microduck preorders top 20,000 after Nvidia CEO demo

Preorders for the Microduck robot surged past 20,000 units within 24 hours of a viral demonstration at Nvidia’s GTC Berlin conference. The milestone was confirmed by Clem Delangue of Hugging Face, who cited the rapid uptake as evidence that the device has captured significant consumer interest ahead of the holiday season.

The demand spike follows a keynote presentation by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who interacted with a flock of the small robots on stage. The footage showed the units executing programmed behaviors such as sitting, falling over to simulate naps, and performing somersaults on voice command. The visual appeal of the devices, which also emit small mechanical sounds, appears to have driven the immediate spike in orders.

Hugging Face expects the units to be delivered in time for Christmas, suggesting the product could become a top seller for the holiday market. Delangue indicated that the device may become the best-selling robot of the year. The target demographic is not limited to children, as promotional materials feature adults engaging with the units, broadening the potential customer base for the holiday retail period.

The Microduck is an open source device originally produced by Pollen Robotics. The company was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025, and Hugging Face was subsequently acquired by Nvidia in September of this year. This chain of ownership places the Microduck under the Nvidia umbrella, making it the second robot product from the Hugging Face portfolio after the Reachy Mini.

The technology behind the device relies on Nvidia’s software stack. Developers used simulations to teach the robots basic movements like walking and standing, which are included in the initial shipping configuration. Pollen Robotics notes that owners can train their units to perform new tricks and share these custom programs with the wider community, creating a potential ecosystem for user generated content.

The release of the Microduck provides a contrast to recent news in the artificial intelligence sector. This week saw increased attention on the role of AI in various cyberattacks, a development that highlighted the industry's risks. The popularity of the Microduck suggests that consumers are receptive to AI products that are perceived as approachable and entertaining, rather than purely utilitarian or complex.

The rapid sales velocity indicates that the device has successfully transitioned from a technical demonstration to a consumer product. With delivery scheduled for the holiday window, the Microduck is positioned to capture a significant share of the seasonal robot market. The success of the preorder campaign will likely influence how Nvidia and Hugging Face approach future hardware releases and marketing strategies.