Jensen Huang's Viral Duck Demo Ignites 20,000 Preorders for Holiday Season

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s playful interaction with a flock of small, waddling robots has propelled the devices to viral status, resulting in over 20,000 preorders within a single day. The surge in interest was triggered by footage from the company’s GTC Berlin conference earlier this week, where Huang was seen engaging with the Microducks during his keynote address. The robots, which stomp their feet and emit sounds reminiscent of the astromech droid R2-D2, captured the attention of viewers and quickly became a social media sensation.

The timeline of the product’s rise began with the GTC Berlin event. During the keynote, the Microducks performed a series of programmed behaviors, including sitting, falling over to simulate a nap, and performing somersaults on voice command. The charm of the demonstration struck a chord with the audience. By the following day, Clem Delangue of Hugging Face confirmed the sales surge via a social media post, noting that preorders had already surpassed the 20,000-unit mark.

The devices are scheduled for delivery in time for the Christmas season, cementing their status as potential holiday favorites. Delangue has suggested that the Microducks could become the best-selling robot of the year. Notably, he believes the appeal extends beyond the traditional toy market for children, as promotional materials feature adults interacting with the units, highlighting their broad entertainment value.

The Microducks are open-source devices developed by Pollen Robotics. The company was acquired by Hugging Face in 2025, and Hugging Face was subsequently purchased by Nvidia in September of the same year. This acquisition chain places the Microducks directly under the Nvidia umbrella, integrating the product into the GPU giant’s broader ecosystem of hardware and software solutions.

This release marks Hugging Face’s second foray into robotics, following the successful launch of the Reachy Mini, another device noted for its cuteness. The new Microducks leverage Nvidia’s technology stack for their development. Specifically, simulations of the robots were used to train them in basic maneuvers such as walking, sitting, and standing. These pre-programmed tricks are included in the units shipped to customers.

Beyond the built-in capabilities, Pollen Robotics states that owners have the ability to train their individual units with new tricks. The platform supports a community-driven approach where users can share these newly learned behaviors with others. This feature adds a layer of customization and engagement, allowing the user base to expand the functional repertoire of the devices over time.

The viral moment occurred against a backdrop of significant industry challenges. Earlier in the week, the AI sector faced scrutiny as AI involvement was blamed for a series of cyberattacks, creating a tense atmosphere for the technology. The lighthearted nature of the Microduck demonstration served as a contrasting highlight, offering a moment of levity for an industry dealing with high-profile security concerns.

The immediate reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly positive, with many viewers expressing a desire to purchase the units. The combination of the CEO’s public endorsement and the robots’ endearing behavior has created a strong momentum heading into the holiday shopping period. As delivery dates approach, the Microducks are poised to make a significant impact in the consumer robotics market.

The success of the Microducks also underscores Nvidia’s expanding role in the consumer and developer hardware space. By integrating the technology from Pollen Robotics and Hugging Face, the company is demonstrating a strategy that blends high-performance computing with accessible, interactive devices. The rapid adoption of the product suggests a strong market appetite for open-source, customizable robotics that can be easily shared and modified by the community.