Hottest toy for Christmas? Nvidia CEO plays with adorable Microduck robots, 20,000 sell

THE NEWS

What happened

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang showcased Microduck robots at GTC Berlin, sparking viral interest and over 20,000 preorders within a day. Produced by Pollen Robotics (now part of Nvidia via Hugging Face), these open-source devices are expected to arrive in time for Christmas as a top holiday toy.

CONTEXT

Why it matters

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang showcased adorable Microduck robots at GTC Berlin, and the internet went wild. Within a day, preorders surpassed 20,000 units! These open-source bots, created by Pollen Robotics (now part of Nvidia through Hugging Face), can walk, sit, nap, and learn new tricks from owners. Expected for Christmas delivery, they are poised to become the hottest toy of the season.

AT A GLANCE

Key facts

• Microducks sold over 20,000 units in preorders after Jensen Huang's viral demo.
• The robots were demonstrated at Nvidia's GTC Berlin conference earlier this week.
• Pollen Robotics, the creator of Microducks, was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025.
• Nvidia completed its acquisition of Hugging Face in September 2026.
• Microducks are open-source devices trained on Nvidia's technology stack.
• Owners can train their own robots with new tricks and share them with the community.
• The Microducks are expected to be delivered in time for Christmas.
• This marks Hugging Face's second robot product, following the Reachy Mini.