Nvidia’s New Robot Duck Races Past 20,000 Preorders Ahead of Holiday

For consumers preparing for the upcoming holiday season, a new robotic device has emerged as a leading candidate for the most popular gift. The Microduck, a small, waddling robot, has seen its preorder count surge past 20,000 units within a single day of a high-profile public demonstration. This rapid uptake suggests the device is positioning itself as a major player in the consumer electronics market for the end of 2026.

The sales spike was driven by a video that circulated widely earlier this week. During a keynote address at the GTC Berlin conference, Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang was seen interacting with a group of these robots. The footage showed the devices performing various programmed actions, including walking, sitting, and executing somersaults upon receiving voice commands. The robots also emitted sounds similar to the droid R2-D2 and simulated a "nap" by falling over. The clip went viral, capturing public attention with its playful nature.

Clem Delangue, a spokesperson for Hugging Face, confirmed the sales figures in a social media post. Delangue noted that the preorders exceeded the 20,000-unit mark by the day following the conference. He suggested that the Microduck could finish as the best-selling robot of the year. Notably, Delangue indicated that the device may appeal strongly to adult consumers, not just children, a claim supported by promotional materials featuring adults playing with the units.

The Microduck is an open-source device manufactured by Pollen Robotics. Pollen Robotics is a subsidiary of Hugging Face, which was acquired by Nvidia in September of this year. Consequently, the Microduck is now part of the Nvidia corporate portfolio. This is not the first robot from this lineage; Hugging Face previously released the Reachy Mini. The acquisition places the Microduck under the umbrella of the GPU giant, linking its development directly to Nvidia’s broader technology stack.

The technology behind the Microduck relies on Nvidia’s infrastructure. The devices were trained using simulations where they learned basic maneuvers such as walking, sitting, and standing. These pre-programmed tricks are included in the standard shipping configuration. Pollen Robotics states that owners have the capability to train their specific units with new tricks. Furthermore, the company has established a mechanism for users to share these new custom commands with the broader community, fostering an ecosystem around the hardware.

The company expects to deliver the Microducks in time for the Christmas holiday period. With delivery dates approaching, the device is entering the critical window for holiday retail performance. The viral nature of the CEO’s demonstration has provided significant organic marketing, reducing the need for traditional advertising spend. The combination of open-source accessibility and corporate backing from Nvidia creates a unique market position for the product.

This launch occurs against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny in the artificial intelligence sector. Earlier in the week, the industry faced criticism regarding the role of AI in recent cyberattacks. The lighthearted presentation of the Microduck offers a contrast to these serious developments. The device serves as a tangible example of AI technology applied to consumer entertainment, potentially helping to humanize the industry for a general audience that may be wary of complex algorithmic systems.

The success of the Microduck highlights the market's appetite for accessible, interactive AI hardware. By leveraging a viral moment during a major industry conference, Nvidia and Hugging Face have accelerated the product's visibility. As the holiday season approaches, retailers and investors will be watching to see if the initial preorder momentum translates into sustained sales volume. The device’s open-source nature also invites third-party developers, which could further expand its utility and market reach in the coming months.