Nvidia Microduck Robot Tops 20,000 Preorders After Jensen Huang Demo
Microduck preorders topped 20,000 after Jensen Huang's GTC Berlin demo, with Pollen Robotics' open-source AI ducks due for delivery before Christmas 2026.
Summary
At Nvidia’s GTC Berlin conference, CEO Jensen Huang commanded a flock of Microducks to walk, sit, simulate a nap and somersault while making R2-D2-like sounds. After Nvidia posted video on October 21, 2026, preorders surpassed 20,000 by the next day, Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue said. Delivery is expected before Christmas, and Delangue believes Microduck could become 2026’s best-selling robot; promotional videos show adults playing with it as well as children.
Microduck is an open-source device from Pollen Robotics, acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Nvidia bought Hugging Face in September 2026, bringing Pollen under Nvidia ownership; Microduck follows Hugging Face’s first robot, Reachy Mini. Its included walking, sitting and standing skills were learned in simulation through Nvidia’s technology stack, while Nvidia said AI agents on RTX Spark helped transfer them into the physical world. Owners can teach additional tricks and share them with the community. Pricing remains undisclosed, and the launch follows a week when AI involvement was blamed for multiple cyberattacks.
Positives
- More than 20,000 Microducks were preordered by the day after Jensen Huang’s viral GTC Berlin demonstration.
- Christmas 2026 delivery could position Microduck for strong holiday demand among both children and adults.
- Owners can train Microducks to perform additional tricks and share those behaviors with the community.
- Nvidia’s simulation stack and RTX Spark AI agents helped transfer Microduck’s basic skills into physical robots.
- Pollen Robotics is offering Microduck as an open-source device rather than a closed toy platform.
Risks & concerns
- The 20,000-unit figure represents preorders rather than completed sales, while delivery is only expected before Christmas.
- Clem Delangue’s best-selling robot prediction lacks disclosed pricing or comparative market data.
- AI involvement was blamed for multiple cyberattacks that week, highlighting wider risks surrounding the technology behind Microduck.