Hugging Face launches Microduck, a $399 open-source robot

The ongoing AI revolution has finally given us something everyone can get behind: a tiny robot duck on roller skates. Yes, really. On Aug. 27, AI platform Hugging Face unveiled Microduck, a 9.8-inch-tall bipedal robot that waddles, sits, kicks a ball, picks up objects with its beak, and gets back on its feet after falling over. Add the optional wheels, and it can even roller-skate. Microduck is available to preorder now for an introductory price of $399 before taxes and shipping, with the first deliveries expected before Christmas 2026. It is currently launching in North America, Europe, and the UK. The product was developed by Pollen Robotics, the French robotics company that Hugging Face acquired in 2025. The duck comes with seven trained moves and a game controller, so owners can start bossing it around without writing a line of code. It can also follow a laser pointer, react to its surroundings, and trigger movements using NFC tags. Four color options are available at launch: Cream, Graphite, Lavender, and Sky. But Microduck is more than a very, very elaborate desk toy. Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue described it as an "open-source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcem