Jensen Huang's Viral Duck Demo Sends Preorders Soaring Ahead of Holiday Season

Preorders for the Microduck robot surpassed 20,000 units within 24 hours of a viral video showing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang interacting with the devices. The rapid spike in interest occurred following Huang’s keynote presentation at the GTC Berlin conference earlier this week. The footage showed the executive playing with a group of small, autonomous robots that waddle, make mechanical noises, and perform simple physical actions on command.

The immediate public reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Clem Delangue, the head of Hugging Face, confirmed the preorder milestone via social media. He noted that the robots have already captured significant attention and may become the best-selling robotic device of the year. Delangue suggested that the appeal extends beyond children, noting that promotional materials feature adults engaging with the units as well.

The Microducks are designed to be delivered before Christmas, which places them in a prime position to become a major holiday toy. The devices are built by Pollen Robotics, a company that was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025. Since Nvidia purchased Hugging Face in September, the Microducks are now technically part of the GPU giant’s portfolio. This is the second robot developed by Hugging Face, following the release of the Reachy Mini.

The robots operate using an open-source framework. They were trained using Nvidia’s technology stack, which involves running simulations to teach them basic movements. These include walking, sitting, standing, and falling over for a simulated nap. The units also respond to voice commands, allowing them to perform somersaults and other tricks. The design includes small feet that stomp and produce sounds reminiscent of the droid R2-D2 from the Star Wars franchise.

Pollen Robotics emphasizes the community aspect of the device. Owners are able to train their individual robots with new behaviors and tricks. Once learned, these custom moves can be shared with the broader user base. This open approach allows for continuous evolution of the robots’ capabilities beyond the initial factory settings.

The timing of the launch provides a pleasant contrast to recent news in the artificial intelligence sector. This week has seen significant attention on the role of AI in various cyberattacks, which has created a more serious tone for industry discussions. The Microduck demo offers a lighter perspective, demonstrating that the technology can be playful and accessible. The video has become a popular point of engagement for those following the tech space.

The combination of celebrity endorsement, open-source flexibility, and holiday timing creates a strong market push. The fact that the CEO was seen personally engaging with the hardware added a layer of authenticity to the product launch. As deliveries begin, the success of the Microducks will serve as an indicator of consumer interest in small, interactive robotic companions.