20,000 Microducks preordered after viral CEO demo

The contrast between the AI industry's recent security scares and a viral video of a waddling robot duck highlights a surprising shift in consumer sentiment. During Nvidia's GTC Berlin conference earlier this week, CEO Jensen Huang took center stage not with a complex technical demonstration, but with a flock of Microducks. The robots, which make R2-D2 style noises and perform tricks like sitting, falling down for a nap, and doing somersaults on voice command, captured the internet's attention almost immediately.

The reaction from consumers was swift and measurable. By the day following the keynote, preorders for the devices had already surpassed 20,000 units. Clem Delangue of Hugging Face confirmed this milestone in a public tweet, signaling that the hardware has moved beyond a novelty demo to become a serious commercial product.

With delivery windows set for the Christmas season, the Microducks are positioned to become a major holiday toy. Delangue suggested that the device could end up as the best-selling robot of the year. Notably, the promotional materials feature adults interacting with the robots, indicating that the target demographic may not be limited to children.

The Microducks are open source devices originally produced by Pollen Robotics. The company was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025, and Hugging Face was subsequently purchased by Nvidia in September. This chain of acquisitions means the robots are now part of the Nvidia portfolio. This is Hugging Face's second robotic product, following the earlier release of the Reachy Mini.

Under the hood, the Microducks utilize Nvidia's technology stack for their initial training. Simulations were used to teach the robots basic movements such as walking, sitting, and standing, which are preloaded in the hardware. Pollen Robotics has stated that owners can train their specific units to perform new tricks and share those customizations with the wider community.

The timing of the release offers a welcome distraction for an industry currently grappling with concerns over AI security. This week has seen multiple cyberattacks attributed to AI involvement, casting a shadow over the sector's rapid progress. The lighthearted nature of the Microduck demonstration provides a counterpoint to the more serious discourse surrounding artificial intelligence's potential risks.

For now, the Microducks represent a tangible, physical application of AI that appeals to a broad audience. The combination of cuteness, open source accessibility, and major corporate backing has created a strong market momentum. As the holiday season approaches, the success of this device will serve as an early indicator of consumer appetite for household robots.