20,000 Microducks sold after viral keynote

Twenty thousand units. That is the number of preorders for a single small robot that surged just one day after its public debut. The device in question is the Microduck, a small, autonomous machine that recently stole the spotlight during a major technology conference in Berlin. The rapid sales spike suggests a significant shift in consumer interest toward compact, interactive robotics.

The surge in orders was confirmed by Clem Delangue, the head of Hugging Face. He shared the sales data on social media, noting that the preorders exceeded the 20,000 mark by the day following the launch. This speed of adoption is notable for a new hardware product. The company expects these units to be delivered in time for the Christmas season. This timing positions the Microduck as a potential top seller for the holiday period. Delangue even suggested it could be the best-selling robot of the year. Importantly, this appeal is not limited to children. Promotional materials show adults engaging with the devices as well.

The central figure in this story is Jensen Huang, the chief executive officer of Nvidia. He demonstrated the Microducks during his keynote address at the GTC Berlin conference earlier this week. In the viral video, Huang interacts with a group of the robots. The devices are programmed to perform specific actions on voice command. They can sit, stand, and walk. They also perform playful behaviors, such as falling over to simulate a nap. The robots make small, mechanical noises that resemble the classic droid from the Star Wars franchise. Their waddling gait and responsive movements were a major draw for the audience and online viewers.

The Microduck is the product of Pollen Robotics, a company that was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Hugging Face was, in turn, purchased by Nvidia in September of this year. This makes the Microduck technically an Nvidia product, though it retains its open-source roots. It is the second robot released by the Hugging Face entity. The first was the Reachy Mini, which also featured a cute design. The acquisition chain highlights the growing integration of AI software companies with hardware manufacturers.

The technology behind the Microduck relies on Nvidia’s existing software stack. The robots were trained using simulations before being shipped to customers. In these virtual environments, they learned basic tricks such as walking, sitting, and standing. These pre-trained behaviors are built into the device upon delivery. However, the system is designed for flexibility. Owners can teach their individual robots new tricks. The company encourages users to share these custom behaviors with the wider community, creating a shared library of movements.

The timing of this launch is particularly interesting. It occurred during a week where the artificial intelligence industry faced significant criticism. Several high-profile cyberattacks were linked to AI involvement, leading to a generally tense mood in the tech sector. The Microduck demo offered a stark contrast to that narrative. It showcased the playful and accessible side of the technology. For many observers, the video served as a visual break from the darker news stories. It reminded the public that AI can also be a source of joy and interaction. The combination of cuteness and advanced technology created a strong emotional response. This reaction drove the rapid sales numbers seen in the days following the keynote. The Microduck may now be the defining gadget of the upcoming holiday season.