Nvidia's Jensen Huang turns heads with waddling Microducks at GTC Berlin

The artificial intelligence industry has been grappling with a wave of security concerns and high stakes drama in recent weeks, making the sudden appearance of a flock of small, waddling robots at a major tech conference a refreshing change of pace. This week, attention shifted from complex algorithmic debates to the charming antics of the Microduck during Nvidia's GTC Berlin keynote.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang took the stage and interacted directly with the devices, which immediately captured the attention of the audience. The video of the interaction quickly spread across social media platforms, turning the small machines into a viral sensation within hours. The robots were programmed to stomp their feet, emit small electronic beeps reminiscent of classic sci-fi droids, and respond to specific voice commands by sitting, falling over for a simulated nap, or performing backflips.

The immediate reaction to the demonstration was overwhelmingly positive, driven largely by the perceived cuteness of the devices. By the following day, preorders for the Microducks had exceeded 20,000 units. Clem Delangue of Hugging Face confirmed this rapid uptake in a public post, highlighting how quickly the market responded to the product's unique appeal.

With delivery expected in time for the holiday season, these robots are positioned to become one of the most sought after gifts of the year. Delangue suggested that the Microducks could finish as the best selling robot of the year, a claim that may extend beyond the traditional children's toy demographic. Promotional materials for the product feature adults engaging with the devices, indicating that the target audience includes grown ups who enjoy interactive technology.

The Microducks are open source hardware devices created by Pollen Robotics. This company was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025, which in turn was purchased by Nvidia in September of this year. This chain of acquisitions means the robots now sit within the broader Nvidia corporate structure, linking the cute consumer gadget directly to one of the world's largest GPU manufacturers.

This is not the first robot to come from this lineage. Hugging Face previously released the Reachy Mini, another device that gained popularity for its friendly design and functionality. The release of the Microducks represents a second foray into the personal robotics market by the combined entities, building on the momentum generated by the earlier model.

The technical foundation for the Microducks relies heavily on Nvidia's proprietary technology stack. The robots were trained using simulations where they learned basic behaviors such as walking, sitting, and standing. These pre loaded tricks ensure that the devices are functional and entertaining right out of the box for new owners.

Pollen Robotics has emphasized the community aspect of the product. Owners are not limited to the pre programmed behaviors. They can train their individual robots to perform new tricks and then share these custom skills with the wider user base. This open source approach encourages experimentation and collaboration among the user community, potentially leading to a diverse library of user generated movements.

The viral nature of the launch video offers a counter narrative to the often serious and sometimes alarming news cycle surrounding artificial intelligence. While the industry faces valid questions about security and impact, the Microducks demonstrate a more lighthearted side of the technology. The combination of advanced AI capabilities with a design that invites playful interaction has created a product that feels accessible and fun, making it difficult for viewers to watch the demonstration without considering an order for their own holiday season.